DALLAS, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines®
(NYSE: LUV) and the Downtown Denver Partnership are pleased to
welcome Mile High Residents to take a spin on the ice at the
Southwest Rink at Skyline Park. The rink opened today with
Executive Director of Children's Affairs for the City and County of
Denver Erin Brown, Downtown Denver
Partnership CEO & President Tami
Door, Children's Hospital Colorado Corporate Giving Senior
Manager Kendall Cordova, and
Southwest Airlines Community Affairs & Grassroots Regional
Leader Jane McAtee, along with
families from Children's Hospital Colorado.
To celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Southwest Rink in
Downtown Denver, Southwest
welcomed families from the Children's Hospital Colorado to the
Southwest Rink to be among the first to enjoy the freshly-frozen
ice. Southwest Airlines is proud to partner with The
Children's Hospital Colorado year-round through the Medical
Transportation Grant Program, and since 2010 the hospital has
received more than $200,000 worth of
airfare for patient travel. Southwest extended its giving Heart
within the Community by encouraging Rink visitors to donate a new
children/teen book for Children's Hospital Colorado throughout the
entire Rink season in exchange for free skate rentals. To foster
the giving spirit, Southwest Representatives donated a Santa bag
full of toys and books from the hospital's holiday wish list.
"Each year, the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park quickly becomes a
highlight for Denver residents to kick off the winter season," said
Erin Brown, Executive Director of
Denver's Office of Children's Affairs. "The Rink brings together
the spirit of Colorado, and our
innate love for the outdoors, to meet downtown in the heart of our
city. Thanks to the collaboration between the City and County of
Denver, Southwest Airlines, and the Downtown Denver Partnership,
Denver continues to build community and create family memories that
will last a lifetime."
Brown also announced at the grand opening that Denver students
with the MY Denver card will receive free skate rentals at the
Southwest Rink throughout the season.
"Nearly 49,000 Denver residents, employees, and visitors laced
up their skates last year at the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park,"
said Downtown Denver Partnership's CEO & President Tami Door. "The Southwest Rink is a shining
example of how activation can turn Downtown's public spaces into
places that people "LUV". We thank Southwest Airlines for
making this a possibility and for their continued investment in the
center city."
"Southwest Airlines is dedicated to becoming an integral part of
the communities that we serve, and that is especially true in
Denver," said Jane McAtee, Southwest Airlines Community
Affairs & Grassroots Regional Leader. "We value the
people of Denver, and we're proud to offer a gathering place for
the residents of the Mile High
City to enjoy time together. We're looking forward to another
wonderful year of outdoor events with the Downtown Denver
Partnership here at the rink!"
Last year, the Rink welcomed nearly 49,000 visitors to take to
the ice and enjoy the festivities. After five seasons of the
Southwest Rink, more than 212,530 skaters have taken a spin on the
rink, and the sixth season is expected to bring in record numbers
of skaters!
The Rink is located in Skyline Park next to the historic Daniels
& Fisher Tower and near the intersection of 16th and Arapahoe
streets. Skating will once again be FREE to the public with
the option to bring skates or rent a pair for just $2. To bring some extra cheer to families
visiting the Downtown Denver area
this holiday season, the Rink will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For
more information, hours, and programming, visit
southwestrink.com
The Rink is made possible by a public-private partnership among
the City of Denver Parks and Recreation Department, the Downtown
Denver Partnership, and Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines began service to Denver on Jan. 3, 2006, with 13 daily nonstop departures to
three destinations. The airline currently operates 183 daily
nonstop flights to 58 destinations from Denver, including
international service to Puerto
Vallarta, San Jose del
Cabo/Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico. Southwest is also
actively engaged in the community through sponsorships of the
Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Nuggets, Red Rocks
Amphitheater, Concerts for Kids, Volunteers of America and many
more local organizations. Find more about Southwest's
dedication to Denver here.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of
service, Dallas-based Southwest
Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other
air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
48,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.
Southwest operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 97
destinations across the United
States and seven additional countries.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use
their personal devices to access streaming music provided by Apple
Music or to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as
well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our
valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency℠, a
philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which
low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S.
airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second
checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some
airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a
bold new look: Heart. The new aircraft livery,
airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their
lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines