When a group of Southwest Airlines employees spent Memorial Day honoring those who have served, they may not have known their kindness would soon put a veteran on a life-changing flight to connect with family.
Southwest Airlines flight attendants from the PHX Inflight team volunteered at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Cave Creek, placing flags at veterans’ gravesites in observance of Memorial Day.
Through Southwest Airlines’ Tickets for Time program, which recognizes Southwest employees for their service, those volunteer hours made an even greater impact. For every 20 volunteer hours employees serve and log for an eligible nonprofit organization or school, that organization can earn one complimentary round-trip ticket.
After logging their Memorial Day volunteer hours, the PHX Inflight team earned a round-trip ticket and chose to donate it to Catholic Charities Community Services to benefit a veteran.
Connecting the Gift with a Veteran
Bridget Schleifer, Inflight Supervisor for Southwest Airlines’ PHX Inflight Operations, reached out to Catholic Charities’ MANA House to share the news.
Catholic Charities worked with its MANA House and Resident Services teams to identify a veteran who could most benefit from the opportunity. The recipient was Gail, an Air Force veteran who lives at St. Michael’s Crossing, a Housing for Hope community where Catholic Charities provides Resident Services.
And Gail already knew where she wanted to go.
A Chance to Meet Someone Special
Gail plans to use her Southwest ticket to travel to New York to visit her nephew and meet her two-year-old grandniece for the first time.
Although Gail has seen pictures and videos of the little girl, they have never met face-to-face. Her nephew has even told Gail that his daughter may be her “mini-me.”
“I appreciate that trip so much because I’ve never seen my grandniece, and I’m so looking forward to it,” Gail said.
The complimentary round-trip ticket, which includes two checked bags, will make that long-awaited visit possible.
Putting Heart Into Action
The story behind Gail’s ticket began with service. That act of service has now formed a connection between an organization that wants to serve and vulnerable community members who need support.
Bridget expressed interest in learning more about Catholic Charities’ programs and exploring additional ways Southwest employees can support the organization through volunteer opportunities and donation drives. Future Tickets for Time awards could benefit veterans or individuals served through other Catholic Charities programs.
For Gail, the impact of this gift is personal. Soon, the little girl she has watched grow through pictures and videos will no longer be someone she knows only through a screen. For the first time, Gail can be fully present with her grandniece without the limits of distance.
Catholic Charities is grateful to Southwest Airlines and the PHX Inflight team for putting their Heart into action and choosing to support the people we serve.
