Southwest Airlines Awards $50,000 to Ronald McDonald House Hawaiʻi

Southwest Airlines recently awarded $50,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities Hawaiʻi at its annual LUV Classic Golf Tournament in Dallas, Texas, as a gesture towards its plan to enter the Hawaiʻi market.

Ronald McDonalds House Charity Hawaiʻi accepts a $50,000 donation from Southwest Airlines. PC: RMHC.

Every year at the LUV Classic, Southwest Airlines supports Ronald McDonald House Charities across the nation. This year, their gift to RMHC’s Hawaiʻi Chapter celebrates the Airlines’ plan to enter the Hawaiʻi market and provide interisland and transpacific services to the Hawaiian Islands.

“We are honored and extremely grateful to be one of this year’s children’s charities recipients from Southwest Airlines,” RMHC Hawaiʻi President Jerri Chong said. “We serve more than 350 families a year and this tremendous gift will be utilized for the families who stay at our house. As our services evolve to provide comfort and care for the whole family during a child’s medical crisis, so does the need to create an environment which supports the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of guest families.”

Southwest Airlines’ donation will support the expansion and renovation of the children’s indoor and outdoor play areas and create a family-centered recreation room at the Judd Hillside Ronald McDonald House.

The new additions will include a teen activity center, library and computer niche as well as a family gathering spot, all aimed at providing much needed normalcy and compassionate care for families during their greatest time of need.

“Since 1985, the LUV Classic has donated more than $17 million to children’s charities and $14 million to local Ronald McDonald Houses around the country,” Southwest Airlines President Tom Nealon said. “We are delighted to support the RMHC House in Hawaiʻi, and appreciate being welcomed into the family. It’s an important part of Southwest Airlines’ tradition of giving back to the communities where our customers and employees live and work.”