Together, Southwest and Build-A-Bear teamed up to donate 20,000 Build-A-Bear teddy bears to 36 children's hospitals, including Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. These hosptials are recipients of the airline's Medical Transportation Grant Program, as well as Southwest charitable partners: Make-A-Wish and Ronald McDonald House Charities on Sunday, September 9, in honor of #NationalTeddyBearDay. This is Southwest Airlines largest teddy bear donation they have made.
 
In anticipation of National Teddy Bear Day 2018, the carrier and Build-A-Bear are donating the following:

• More than 7,100 bears to 91 Ronald McDonald House Charities
• More than 2,400 bears to Make-A-Wish chapters
• More than 10,300 bears to 36 U.S. hospitals that are participants in Southwest's Medical Transportation Grant Program

 The Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program has provided air travel to nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation organizations since 2007. To date, Southwest has donated more than $27.6 million in transportation to more than 69,000 patients and caregivers around the country. This year, Southwest is supporting 79 nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation charities located in 41 cities and 26 states. Texas Scottish Rite Hospital has been a recipient of the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program since 2011.
 
Since 2016, Build-A-Bear has donated more than 64,000 teddy bears to organizations across the globe in honor of National Teddy Bear Day. Over the course of its nearly 21-year history, Build-A-Bear and its Guests have donated more than $50 million in funds and furry friends to children’s charities.

Our patients, like Haylie, were thrilled to recieve furry friends from both organizations for this special day. Watch Haylie recieve her teddy bear and talk about her special stuffed animal Southwest Airlines and Build-A-Bear Workshop donated.

Happy #NationalTeddyBearDay!