Date: January 10, 2007

Oakland, CA: East Meets West Foundation, the largest non-governmental organization working in development in Vietnam, and Southwest Airlines of Dallas, TX announced the launch today of its year-long partnership for the Giving LUV, Saving Lives campaign to help save the lives of children in Vietnam who suffer from congenital heart defects.

The Giving LUV, Saving Lives campaign supports Operation Healthy Heart (OHH), a program of the East Meets West Foundation which provides corrective surgery for children with congenital heart defects. Every year, 20,000 children in Vietnam are awaiting surgery. Since 1994, Operation Healthy Heart has provided life-saving financial assistance to more than 1,200 children.

EMW's Development Officer, Dee Dee Nguyen, said, "Because Southwest Airlines is known as the airline with a great heart, we knew they would be the best partner for the Giving LUV, Saving Lives campaign.  Together, we hope to save the lives of children throughout all of Vietnam who suffer from congenital heart defects by building awareness around the needs of these young children."

"Southwest Airlines is committed to serving the Asian Community and is kicking off its support of Lunar New Year festivities in San Francisco and the Vietnamese American Tet celebration in San Jose. Our partnership with East Meets West and Operation Healthy Heart is a natural extension of reaching out to the communities we serve and aligning with their values," said Southwest spokesperson, Kim Delevett.  "Twenty thousand children are waiting every year in Vietnam for cardiac surgery. Unfortunately, 5-15% of these kids won't survive to the age of 12. Southwest felt compelled to help save these children's lives with our dedicated partners East Meet West."

For the tenth year in a row, FORTUNE magazine recognized Southwest Airlines in its annual survey of corporate reputations. Among all industries in 2006, FORTUNE has listed Southwest Airlines as number three among America's Top Ten most admired corporations. Southwest Airlines is the largest airline in terms of customers carried, according to recent data. The airline operates more than 3,100 flights a day to 63 cities in 32 states.

 

Where A Donation to OHH Goes

A donation of $1000 will provide heart surgery to one critically-ill child.

A donation of $100 will cover costs to transport children to hospitals that offer a free heart surgery program for children under six years old.

A donation of $50 provides follow-up care—medicine and food—for a month to a child recovering from surgery.

To find about more about OHH, contact laura@eastmeetswest.org or call 1-800-561-3378 today.