Southwest Airlines Announces Partnership With Center for Citizen Leadership
Airline Will Endow Two Fellowships in Honor of Fallen Employees
DALLAS, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today announced a partnership with Center for Citizen Leadership (CCL), an organization dedicated to helping returning Veterans continue their service at home. Through the organization's Mission Continues program, Southwest Airlines is endowing two Fellowships in honor of two Southwest Employees who gave their lives in the current war -- Finance Employee and Sergeant Charles B. Kitowski III, U.S. Army, and Kansas City Provisioning Agent and Sergeant First Class Michael T. Fuga, Army National Guard.
The Mission Continues Fellowship program encourages Veterans to carry on their mission of service as they return to their communities. The program places Veterans with a service organization for 14 weeks in a capacity that matches their skill set.
"Southwest Airlines is proud to partner with an organization whose aim is to help Veterans serve their communities," said Debra Benton, Director of Community Relations and Charitable Giving for Southwest. "It's important to support troops not only while they're at war, but also when they return home."
At a special Mission Continues celebration in honor of Veteran's Day, Southwest Airlines and the CCL celebrated the current ten Mission Continues Fellows for their achievements in service.
"What's really important to the Center is that our wounded and disabled Veterans who are coming back are seen as assets and are treated as assets," said Eric Geitens, Chairman and Founder of CCL. "Southwest Airlines believes in these Veterans enough to help them set a positive example for future generations."
About Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines has a long history of supporting the men and women who fight for our Freedoms. We are proud to have more than 700 Employees serve in the National Guard and Reserves. In fact, Southwest Airlines was recognized by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its commitment and support of the airline's National Guard and Reserve Employees. Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines serves 64 cities in 32 states and is the largest carrier in the world, as measured by passengers carried.
About Center for Citizen Leadership
The Center for Citizen Leadership is a national 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization headquartered in St. Louis. The Center's Mission Continues Fellowship program engages wounded veterans in continued service at home. For more information about the Center or The Mission Continues, please visit http://www.citizenleadership.org.
http://www.southwest.com
SOURCE Southwest Airlines
Released November 11, 2008