Skip to main content

Southwest Airlines Community

Build-A-Bear and Southwest Bring Bear Hugs to New Heights in Celebration of National Teddy Bear Day!

deenagemoets
Employee
Employee

In celebration of National Teddy Bear Day, which occurs each year on September 9, Southwest Airlines and Build-A-Bear Workshop are teaming up to donate 20,000 teddy bears to charitable organizations that Southwest supports. These bears will be donated to 36 children’s hospitals that are recipients of the airline’s Medical Transportation Grant Program, as well as Southwest charitable partners: Make-A-Wish® and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). 

 

In anticipation of National Teddy Bear Day 2018, Southwest and Build-A-Bear are donating the following:

  • More than 7,100 bears to 91 Ronald McDonald House Charities
  • More than 2,400 bears to Make-A-Wish chapters
  • More than 10,300 bears to 36 U.S. hospitals that are participants in Southwest’s Medical Transportation Grant Program

 180811Buildabear-WEB-2.jpg

 

Additionally, Southwest Employees and Build-A-Bear associates are surprising Customers on 10 flights in 10 airports across the country with special Southwest and Build-A-Bear co-branded teddy bears. Southwest and Build-A-Bear have been designing the special co-branded bear since January 2018 to commemorate the brands teaming up for the first time.

 

The Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program has provided air travel to nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation organizations since 2007. To date, Southwest has donated more than $27.6 million in transportation to more than 69,000 patients and caregivers around the country. This year, Southwest is supporting 79 nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation charities located in 41 cities and 26 states.

 

Since 2016, Build-A-Bear has donated more than 64,000 teddy bears to organizations across the globe in honor of National Teddy Bear Day. Over the course of its nearly 21-year history, Build-A-Bear and its Guests have donated more than $50 million in funds and furry friends to children’s charities.

 

To learn more about the partnership, visit Southwest.com/buildabear. For downloadable assets, including videos and photos, please visit SWAMedia.com.

1 Comment
bgubs14
Frequent Flyer C

This is Awesome! The bears are so cute!  I wish I was one of those customers