Skip to main content

Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest and ATL Falcons Help Make a Wish Come True

kati-tucker
Explorer C
Today's feature is a guest post from Fabiola Charles Make-A-Wish Georgia, VP, Communications & External Affairs Jordan Thomas 8 Fourteen-year-old wish kid Jordan thought his parents were driving him to yet another doctor’s app  ointment. But instead of arriving at the hospital, he found a sweet surprise from Southwest Airlines. After more than a year of battling bone cancer, Jordan never expected the routine visit was an elaborate ruse to spread a little LUV to him and his family. It all started at our Make-A-Wish® Georgia office. Jordan shared his love for football. He told us that he’s been an Atlanta Falcons fan for as long as he can remember and never misses an opportunity to cheer them on. Lining up a Southwest Airlines Surprise for Jordan When Southwest Airlines called our office with an opportunity to connect a child with the team, Jordan instantly came to mind. As the official airline for the team, Southwest was hosting the Falcons at their Trading Spaces event – a day when players swap their helmets and pads for boarding passes and act as honorary Southwest Employees. They wanted to include one of our kids and we knew Jordan would LUV it. But, as with anything we organize, we wanted to make the day extra special for him. We shared the details of the event with his parents, who helped us plan the surprise and brought Jordan to this extra-special “appointment.” As they drove down the familiar route, they took a detour and arrived at the airport instead. When they pulled up to the terminal, Southwest greeted Jordan and his family with colorful banners, decorated signs and famous Falcons players. The look of pure shock on Jordan’s face was priceless. Shann Schillinger, Jordan Thomas, William Moore, Dominique Franks Face Time with the Falcons Jordan spent the afternoon hanging out with Harry Douglas, Shan Schillinger, Dominique Franks, Joe Hawley, and William Moore. Together, they made boarding announcements and marshaled planes in and out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  He fit right in with the players, thanks to the autographed jersey they gave him as a keepsake. We were thrilled to team up with one of our national sponsors, Southwest Airlines, to give this experience to a great wish kid like Jordan. For the many families we serve, the wish experience is one of the few times they can forget about the illness and have moments of happiness to share.Shann Schillinger, Harry Douglas, Jordan Thomas, Joe Hawley, William Moo... Bringing hope, strength and joy to families across Georgia at a time when they need it most is part of what makes the Make-A-Wish mission so amazing. And we are so thankful to have supporters like Southwest Airlines who join us in making kids’ wishes come true. Southwest Airlines donates roundtrip tickets every year for kids and their families on their way to and from a Make-A-Wish experience. Southwest employees also work together to make air travel part of the fun of a wish experience, from assistance during boarding to special recognition during flights.