For Immediate Release: Nov. 21, 2011

Southwest Airlines Becomes Grady Health Foundation Newest Supporter

Contact: Jennie Olshaske
Phone: (404) 616-7084
E-mail: JOlshaske@gmh.edu

Atlanta's soon-to-be newest airline is also the newest supporter of Grady Health Foundation and Grady Memorial Hospital. The airline has announced it will accelerate AirTran Airways' previous commitment and add an additional $50,000 for a total contribution of $200,000 to the health system. The donation will be used for a renovation of the hospital's emergency department waiting area.

"Upon our acquisition of AirTran, we said our primary goal was to listen first and learn about Atlanta's civic and charitable communities," said Debra Benton, Director of Community Relations and Charitable Giving for Southwest Airlines. "We heard loud and clear how important a healthy Grady Hospital is to the entire Metro Atlanta region. Southwest Airlines is proud to partner with AirTran Airways to support Atlanta's premier trauma and emergency department."

"This generous donation by Southwest Airlines is a sure sign they are ready to touch down in Atlanta with a commitment to the community at large," says Lisa Borders, President, Grady Health Foundation. "This donation is an on-time delivery for the healthcare needs of hundreds of thousands of people who are treated in our emergency department and trauma center annually. We are grateful to our new partner and look forward to working with them as they grow in the Atlanta market."

Grady's emergency department sees nearly 105,000 patients annually including nearly 3,500 major trauma cases. The waiting area was last updated more than twenty years ago and is often crowded with patients, family members and visitors. The department is undergoing a physical transformation thanks to donations such as this. This month also marked the opening of the departments new 12,500 square foot Marcus Trauma Center.

Southwest Airlines will begin service from Atlanta to five destinations Feb. 12, 2012, with two additional destinations beginning March 10, 2012. This past May, Southwest announced the AirTran Airways acquisition had been finalized and began the process of integrating the airlines.

About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Department and Burn Center, Grady has the premier level I trauma center in the region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady as well.

The Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center , Grady Diabetes Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Avon Breast Health Center are also notable components of the health system. Additionally, Grady's Ponce de Leon Center was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Other key services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, dedicated 60 Plus services for older adults, Teen Services, and the Rape Crisis Center. Nationally ranked in one specialty, Grady was named one of Atlanta's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

About Southwest Airlines
In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers - offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 72 cities in 37 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit www.southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 employees systemwide.

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