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Deloitte donates Southwest Airlines® ticket balances to provide travel for medical professionals

NEW YORK, NY, 5 May 2020—In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Deloitte is donating unused ticket balances on Southwest Airlines® to the University of California’s academic health systems to support medical professionals traveling to treat COVID-19 patients within the state of California.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely strained health and hospital systems around the world.

says Michele Parmelee, Deloitte Global Chief People and Purpose Officer.

One way for Deloitte to make an impact that matters in this crisis is to help connect medical professionals to the communities with the greatest needs. Working with Southwest Airlines, we have developed a creative solution that allows us to donate Deloitte’s unused ticket balances to fund the travel of medical professionals to the frontlines of this fight.

In times like now, it’s wonderful to see one of our top corporate partners provide critical travel support to organizations fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

said Kevin Sullivan, Senior Director of Southwest Business.

Southwest remains committed to putting its Hearts in action by helping those serving on the front line and partnering with organizations to ensure medical personnel are able to reach areas where they are needed the most.

By joining forces with Southwest Airlines, Deloitte’s donation is helping to reduce the travel costs of medical professionals flying to and from the six University of California health systems in the state. With offices and professionals located in more than 150 countries and territories around the world, Deloitte is one of the largest travel buyers globally. As a result, Deloitte is in the process of donating approximately US$1 million unused ticket balances across multiple airlines to assist frontline workers traveling to COVID-19 hotspots, as well as to facilitate the transportation of personal protective equipment, and medical supplies to areas of greatest need.

Deloitte’s multi-pronged, global approach to its COVID-19 response focuses on making an everyday impact through direct donations to organizations fighting the pandemic, collaborating with clients and suppliers on innovative medical solutions, supporting nonprofit and community partners in need, rolling out or expanding employee giving programs, and supporting government response efforts.