This wasn’t my first time in New York City, nor was it my second. But it was definitely my first time to experience a Southwest city opening, and my first time to head up a Share the Spirit volunteer effort in a city we’ve so quickly grown to LUV.
With applause still ringing in the air as we “rapped” up the press conference Sunday morning--officially kicking off service at LaGuardia Airport (LGA)--several Employee volunteers loaded into a bus and headed to New York City’s Flushing Meadows Park for a little “hands on” action. As with every Southwest city that we serve, our goal is to give back to the community through our Share the Spirit efforts. And you better believe New York is no different. While the city may be big and the volunteer opportunities endless, in true Southwest fashion, we found a way to serve NYC.
Just a stones throw away from LaGuardia, you can find a peaceful paradise within “the city that never sleeps.” The 1,255 acre Flushing Meadows Park is filled with family-friendly attractions including a zoo, several museums, a botanical garden, a recreation complex, and a baseball stadium; just to name a few.
And while you can see families gathering for picnics, soccer games, and participating in just about any outdoor activity you can find, the park itself needed a little TLC--that’s where Southwest Airlines stepped in. With gloves and trash bags in hand, we got to work “beautifying” the park. We had a team of volunteers picking up trash as far as the eye could see, and another set of volunteers painting the park benches that lined the entrance of the park and the main thoroughfare.
No matter how big (or small) the task may be, Southwest Airlines Employees are always ready to Share the Spirit and take on a new challenge. New York City, we’re here and ready to serve!
Comments
Southwest's commitment to community is very evident . My question is, how far does that commitment go?
I am one of several thousand readers of the Fat Cyclist blog. http://www.fatcyclist.com/ The Fat Cyclist "Eldon Nelson" is currently waging a war against cancer. His wife has stage 4 breast cancer and as a way of helping her fight he has set a goal to raise a half a million dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Currently the Friends of Fatty (his readers) have collectively raised $344,788 for LAF.
He has energized people (me included) who have never met him to hop a bike and commit to riding 100 miles in the San Jose LiveSTRONG Challenge. Read his blog and comments from his readers and you will see a level of strength, dedication and love that fills you with hope that there are beautiful people out there and that someday we may find a cure.
If you read his blog for today, you will see why I am writing to you. Here is an exerpt from the end of today's blog
"Help Me Fight
People are of course always asking how they can help, and to tell the truth I often have no idea what kind of help I need. But here’s something some of you may be able to do, if you want.
As you know, one of the ways I’m coping with all this is by trying to convert it into something good: raising money to fight cancer. I’ve got ideas and plans for some really great new giveaways, but a lot of them involve travel, and that’s one nut I have not been able to crack.
So. If you have a lot of frequent flier points, or are sitting on a free flight coupon or otherwise have ways of making it possible to give someone else a round trip ticket, and you’re willing to use your power of flight for good, email me.
I’ll have more updates soon. Meanwhile, thanks for your support. I owe all of you a lot."
So I am asking if Southwest can help us with our fight and provide Fatty with free travel so he can continue these fundraising efforts?
As I said Fatty has thousands of fans who are very loyal and I can tell you, your assistance would win customers for life!!
I can't say it any better than Angie did, but any support Southwest can provide to Elden (Fatty) and his family would be a wonderful thing -- I know I am not alone in this feeling. Win Susan!
Like AngieG, I, too, applaud your commitment to community and I, too, ask how far does it go? As another follower of www.fatcyclist.com, I've watched him raise nearly $350K for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He's got a talent for raising money for a good cause and He's currenlty looking for some help with travel options for his latest raffles and I'd like to challenge you to step up and help out. Check out today's blog post and contact him!
Thanks and happy (con)trails!
I am also a friend of the Fat Cyclist. I am riding the 100 miles in the San Jose LiveSTRONG Challenge for his team in support of his wife Susan. I fully support his request and echo the same sentiment that Angie, (who I have never met), expressed in the comment before me.
Thanks in advance for your support!
Fremont MikeJ
@AngieG
Go on SouthWest, you could make a big difference here. All Elden and Susan need are a few of your empty seats. Better still, he doesn't want them for himself. He wants them to help him raise money to fight cancer.
The permalink you want to look at is here:
http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/07/01/update-on-susan-july-1/
I appreciate your commitment to the community.
I am a friend of the Fatcyclist and have committed to riding 100 mile course in the San Jose LiveSTRONG Challenge.
I would like to echo my support for Angie's comment and hope that you can help out for a truly wonderful person and cause.
Thanks in advance Southwest!
Mike Jones in Fremont
If anyone has ever demonstrated Southwest's motto of "displaying the Warrior Spirit, acting with a Servant’s Heart, and embracing a Fun-LUVing Attitude", it's Fatty. As another of FatCyclist.com's loyal readers and daughter of a woman bravely battling cancer, I too am asking if Southwest can join our fight.
A couple of round-trip passes raise thousands for LAF...
Just another word from a "Friends of Fatty" reader. If there's anyone that works for Southwest or has any way to donate air miles to the fund raisers that Eldon Nelson has going, please please do so. He's not thinking of himself or even just his family but the whole "affected by Cancer" group that we all know a member of. Everything this man does is aimed at attacking Cancer thru the Lance Armstrong Foundation and all money raised goes straight to them to help those in need and to fight Cancer.
Thank-you
Hi Southwest!
I have a horrible fear of flying, but when I do...Southwest is my choice.
I'd like to ask you to help out my friend, Fatty. He is trying to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He needs some help with transportation to make his prizes super!
Will you lend a hand?
Friends of Fatty are loyal. Many businesses have contributed to Team Fatty's fundraising effort, and will attest that Team Fatty make loyal customers!
www.fatcyclist.com
WIN SUSAN!
Hi everyone, especially Friends of Fatty. It sounds like he is doing some remarkable work, and I would imagine that you will have a lot of Southwest Employees volunteering to help. The events at Flushing Meadows Park were of a voluntary nature, and trust me, when our folks volunteer, things happen. We also have a Charitable Giving group and they provide assistance to official 501.C charities around our system, but as you might imagine, our hearts are bigger than our budgets. While it's not our policy to donate travel directly to individuals, we do donate tickets to fund-raising events that will assist individuals. For full details of our program and to request assistance please go to http://southwest.sponsorport.com/.
Thanks,
Brian
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