At Southwest, we have a passion for people- a passion that comes from the heart and motivates us to not only make a positive difference, but change lives. Each year at our annual Volunteers of LUV event, we celebrate Employee volunteers who embody the Southwest Airlines Servant’s Heart.
Southwest is committed to being a good neighbor in the cities we serve, but we couldn’t do it without the help of our Employees. In 2014, Southwest and AirTran Employees volunteered nearly 145,000 hours which is equivalent to $3.3 million in time to nonprofit organizations!
This year, we honored 22 Employees as Volunteers of LUV for going above and beyond in giving back to their communities. Congratulations to our 2015 Volunteers of LUV winners, and thank you to all our Employees who share their Servant’s Heart with our Communities every day!
The 2015 Volunteers of LUV:
Tricia Angelo,
from the Finance Department, was able to get almost all 80 individuals from her Department to volunteer at Vogel Alcove, an organization that assists homeless and poverty-stricken children.
Julie Baughman, an Oakland-based Pilot, has recorded more than 500 volunteer hours with the Lindsay Wildlife Museum providing foster care for animals, rehabilitating injured and orphaned animals, and educating others about nature.
Geoff Berry, a Las Vegas-based Pilot, volunteers with The Village Foundation in conjunction with the Clark County School District, focusing on increasing the achievement of academically and financially challenged students.
Brent Brown, from Denver Ground Ops, has been a staple at a number of volunteer events including those with Volunteers of America, Ronald McDonald House of Aurora, and Thanksgiving Share Basket Project, consistently showing up to help out with a kind and caring attitude.
Joel Davis, from Pittsburgh Ground Ops, has logged more than 300 hours volunteering with Horses with Hope, an organization that gives children with special needs a safe place to interact with and ride horses.
Dennis DeFrank, from Denver Ground Ops, volunteers with Honor Flight Columbus, an organization that provides free trips to Washington, D.C. enabling WWII and senior veterans to visit the memorials dedicated to their services and sacrifices.
Gina Duvall, a Las Vegas-based Flight Attendant, was nominated for her investments at Bandelier and Osuna Elementary Schools in Albuquerque where she collaborates with teachers to implement exciting learning curriculum for young students by utilizing Southwest Airlines principles such as “Start Strong” and “Early Bird.”
Berni Elder, a Dallas-based Flight Attendant, was nominated by LifeGift Organ Donation, where she helps with everything in its Donor Family Service from counseling donor families to completing administrative and media-related tasks for the organization.
Mindy Goetz, from Pittsburgh Ground Ops, led her Team of Pittsburgh volunteers in assisting with the development of the Millvale Community Library for the Companywide Volunteer Project last fall, providing a catalytic boost to complete the project.
Katie Golden, from San Francisco Ground Ops, has led with her Servant's Heart volunteering with multiple organizations including the Navy SEAL Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and Ronald McDonald House Charities, in addition to serving lunch to the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul in Oakland each week.
James Goodman, from SWA University, has volunteered his time with various organizations including the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Make-A-Wish, and the Special Olympics, helping organize monthly dinners for his Team, shopping for toy drives and even recruiting the Easter Bunny and Santa for seasonal visits!
Rodney Gore, from Midway Ground Ops, was nominated by the Kappa Leadership Institute of Chicago where he works tirelessly to build a superior college-readiness program that focuses on minority male high school students with promising academic potential.
Evelyn Gravett, from Los Angeles Ground Ops, was nominated by the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House where she has volunteered for more than 16 years, preparing and serving meals to the families, and helping organize fundraisers for the House.
Karla Haibel, with Flint Ground Ops, played an instrumental part in organizing a team of Southwest volunteers to assist in the grand opening of Oak Street Senior Apartments with Communities First, Inc. for the Companywide Volunteer Project this past fall, benefitting more than 300 local community members.
Danielle Karstens, from Communications & Outreach, inspires her fellow co-workers by volunteering her time weekly with Maple Lawn Elementary School through the Communities in Schools Program where she tutors students in reading and writing.
Byron Marroquin, from Phoenix Groups Ops, travels from Phoenix to the Houston Ronald McDonald House where he helps prepare meals, participates in arts and crafts activities, and serves families with a warm smile.
Tom McClain, from Phoenix Tech Ops, volunteers countless hours at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, including recently replacing the gym floor and doing many other necessary maintenance projects around the campus.
Leanne Mieszala, a Flight Attendant from Las Vegas, was nominated by the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada where she provides emotional and practical support to citizens experiencing a tragedy such as an unexpected death, fire, or robbery.
Judy Reese, from the Albuquerque Customer Support & Services Center, volunteers her time with the American Cancer Society as a member of the Relay For Life planning committee, putting in countless hours to help with logistics and she even shaved her head in support of the cause!
Kim Rex, a Phoenix-based Flight Attendant, has spent a great deal of time volunteering with Global Legacy Programs, through which she leads mission trips to Peru, Cambodia, and Tanzania delivering much-needed aid including medical supplies, school supplies, and necessary agricultural materials.
Ruthann Tucholka, a Baltimore-based Flight Attendant, has dedicated much of her time to helping the YWCA of the Tonawandas eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all specifically by volunteering in the YWCA’s Clothes Closet, which provides gently used clothing for those in need.
Carolyn Williams, from the Atlanta Customer Support & Services Center, has inspired others through her volunteer efforts with Open Hand Atlanta, an organization dedicated to comprehensive nutrition care.
At Southwest, we have a passion for people- a passion that comes from the heart and motivates us to not only make a positive difference, but change lives. Each year at our annual Volunteers of LUV event, we celebrate Employee volunteers who embody the Southwest Airlines Servant’s Heart.
Southwest is committed to being a good neighbor in the cities we serve, but we couldn’t do it without the help of our Employees. In 2014, Southwest and AirTran Employees volunteered nearly 145,000 hours which is equivalent to $3.3 million in time to nonprofit organizations!
This year, we honored 22 Employees as Volunteers of LUV for going above and beyond in giving back to their communities. Congratulations to our 2015 Volunteers of LUV winners, and thank you to all our Employees who share their Servant’s Heart with our Communities every day!
The 2015 Volunteers of LUV:
Tricia Angelo, from the Finance Department, was able to get almost all 80 individuals from her Department to volunteer at Vogel Alcove, an organization that assists homeless and poverty-stricken children.
Julie Baughman, an Oakland-based Pilot, has recorded more than 500 volunteer hours with the Lindsay Wildlife Museum providing foster care for animals, rehabilitating injured and orphaned animals, and educating others about nature.
Geoff Berry, a Las Vegas-based Pilot, volunteers with The Village Foundation in conjunction with the Clark County School District, focusing on increasing the achievement of academically and financially challenged students.
Brent Brown, from Denver Ground Ops, has been a staple at a number of volunteer events including those with Volunteers of America, Ronald McDonald House of Aurora, and Thanksgiving Share Basket Project, consistently showing up to help out with a kind and caring attitude.
Joel Davis, from Pittsburgh Ground Ops, has logged more than 300 hours volunteering with Horses with Hope, an organization that gives children with special needs a safe place to interact with and ride horses.
Dennis DeFrank, from Denver Ground Ops, volunteers with Honor Flight Columbus, an organization that provides free trips to Washington, D.C. enabling WWII and senior veterans to visit the memorials dedicated to their services and sacrifices.
Gina Duvall, a Las Vegas-based Flight Attendant, was nominated for her investments at Bandelier and Osuna Elementary Schools in Albuquerque where she collaborates with teachers to implement exciting learning curriculum for young students by utilizing Southwest Airlines principles such as “Start Strong” and “Early Bird.”
Berni Elder, a Dallas-based Flight Attendant, was nominated by LifeGift Organ Donation, where she helps with everything in its Donor Family Service from counseling donor families to completing administrative and media-related tasks for the organization.
Mindy Goetz, from Pittsburgh Ground Ops, led her Team of Pittsburgh volunteers in assisting with the development of the Millvale Community Library for the Companywide Volunteer Project last fall, providing a catalytic boost to complete the project.
Katie Golden, from San Francisco Ground Ops, has led with her Servant's Heart volunteering with multiple organizations including the Navy SEAL Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and Ronald McDonald House Charities, in addition to serving lunch to the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul in Oakland each week.
James Goodman, from SWA University, has volunteered his time with various organizations including the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Make-A-Wish, and the Special Olympics, helping organize monthly dinners for his Team, shopping for toy drives and even recruiting the Easter Bunny and Santa for seasonal visits!
Rodney Gore, from Midway Ground Ops, was nominated by the Kappa Leadership Institute of Chicago where he works tirelessly to build a superior college-readiness program that focuses on minority male high school students with promising academic potential.
Evelyn Gravett, from Los Angeles Ground Ops, was nominated by the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House where she has volunteered for more than 16 years, preparing and serving meals to the families, and helping organize fundraisers for the House.
Karla Haibel, with Flint Ground Ops, played an instrumental part in organizing a team of Southwest volunteers to assist in the grand opening of Oak Street Senior Apartments with Communities First, Inc. for the Companywide Volunteer Project this past fall, benefitting more than 300 local community members.
Danielle Karstens, from Communications & Outreach, inspires her fellow co-workers by volunteering her time weekly with Maple Lawn Elementary School through the Communities in Schools Program where she tutors students in reading and writing.
Byron Marroquin, from Phoenix Groups Ops, travels from Phoenix to the Houston Ronald McDonald House where he helps prepare meals, participates in arts and crafts activities, and serves families with a warm smile.
Tom McClain, from Phoenix Tech Ops, volunteers countless hours at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, including recently replacing the gym floor and doing many other necessary maintenance projects around the campus.
Leanne Mieszala, a Flight Attendant from Las Vegas, was nominated by the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada where she provides emotional and practical support to citizens experiencing a tragedy such as an unexpected death, fire, or robbery.
Judy Reese, from the Albuquerque Customer Support & Services Center, volunteers her time with the American Cancer Society as a member of the Relay For Life planning committee, putting in countless hours to help with logistics and she even shaved her head in support of the cause!
Kim Rex, a Phoenix-based Flight Attendant, has spent a great deal of time volunteering with Global Legacy Programs, through which she leads mission trips to Peru, Cambodia, and Tanzania delivering much-needed aid including medical supplies, school supplies, and necessary agricultural materials.
Ruthann Tucholka, a Baltimore-based Flight Attendant, has dedicated much of her time to helping the YWCA of the Tonawandas eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all specifically by volunteering in the YWCA’s Clothes Closet, which provides gently used clothing for those in need.
Carolyn Williams, from the Atlanta Customer Support & Services Center, has inspired others through her volunteer efforts with Open Hand Atlanta, an organization dedicated to comprehensive nutrition care.
