DALLAS, Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.,
(NYSE: BBW) are taking teddy bear hugs to new heights in
celebration of National Teddy Bear Day, which occurs each year on
September 9. Together, Southwest® and
Build-A-Bear are teaming up to donate 20,000 Build-A-Bear teddy
bears to 36 children's hospitals that are recipients of the
airline's Medical Transportation Grant Program, as well as
Southwest charitable partners: Make-A-Wish® and Ronald McDonald
House Charities (RMHC).
In anticipation of National Teddy Bear Day 2018, the carrier and
Build-A-Bear are donating the following:
- More than 7,100 bears to 91 Ronald McDonald House
Charities
- More than 2,400 bears to Make-A-Wish chapters
- More than 10,300 bears to 36 U.S. hospitals that are
participants in Southwest's Medical Transportation Grant
Program
Additionally, Southwest Employees and Build-A-Bear Workshop®
associates are surprising Customers in 10 airports across the
country with special Southwest and Build-A-Bear co-branded teddy
bears. This is the first time Southwest and Build-A-Bear have
teamed up, but the brands began discussing the partnership and
designing the special co-branded bear in January 2018.
"At Southwest, we are committed to giving back in the
communities where our Customers and Employees live and work," said
Laurie Barnett, Managing Director,
Communications & Outreach, Southwest. "Through this partnership
with Build-A-Bear, we are honored to lend a hand in donating these
20,000 teddy bears to deserving recipients at Ronald McDonald House
Charities, Make-A-Wish, and children's hospitals that are a part of
the Southwest Medical Transportation Grant Program."
"Our mission at Build-A-Bear is to add a little more heart to
life, and there's something so special and heartfelt about the
comfort a teddy bear hug can provide," said Sharon Price John, president and CEO,
Build-A-Bear Workshop. "We are proud to partner with Southwest
Airlines—which, like Build-A-Bear, is an iconic, beloved brand—to
take teddy bear hugs to new heights and celebrate one of our
favorite holidays in a fun, innovative way."
The Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program has
provided air travel to nonprofit hospitals and medical
transportation organizations since 2007. To date, Southwest
has donated more than $27.6 million
in transportation to more than 69,000 patients and caregivers
around the country. This year, Southwest is supporting 79 nonprofit
hospitals and medical transportation charities located in 41 cities
and 26 states.
Since 2016, Build-A-Bear has donated more than 64,000 teddy
bears to organizations across the globe in honor of National Teddy
Bear Day. Over the course of its nearly 21-year history,
Build-A-Bear and its Guests have donated more than $50 million in funds and furry friends to
family-centric charities.
To learn more about the partnership and for shareable assets,
visit Southwest.com/buildabear. For downloadable assets, including
videos and photos, please visit SWAMedia.com.
About Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear® is a global brand kids love and parents trust that
seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has
over 400 stores worldwide where guests can create customizable
furry friends, including corporately-managed stores in the United States, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto
Rico, and the United
Kingdom, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia,
Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. Buildabear.com is the online
destination for unique furry-friend gifts, featuring
The-Bear-Builder™, a shopping configurator that helps create
customized gift options. In 2018, Build-A-Bear was named to the
FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the 10th year in a
row.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 48th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co.
(NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
57,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers
annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's largest
domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on
the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of
domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel
seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures
among a network of 99 destinations in the
United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has
announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to
Hawaii, subject to requisite
governmental approvals.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its
purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and
low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S.
airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first
and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply.
As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the
largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft. Customers who
connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view
on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20
channels of free, live TV.
With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is
progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase
the carrier's Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior
design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an
updated airport experience, all of which showcase a dedication of
Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in
their lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45
consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most
honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line
approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and
productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they
serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The
2017 Southwest Airlines One Report can be found at
SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest
Airlines or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.