Power of Impact in the Community: Melanie O'Brien

Melanie O'Brien, Regional Manager of Corporate Responsibility for Southwest Airlines, manages the charitable and civic partnerships in Southwest Airlines' Baltimore, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. markets. She is a dedicated Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Board member who believes in providing access and equity to children in underserved communities throughout the U.S.

As a steward of philanthropic efforts for Southwest Airlines, O'Brien identifies charitable partners whose missions align with Southwest's focus on building a diverse talent pipeline/workforce for the aviation industry which includes STEM education, career readiness, and leadership skills. In 2023, Southwest Airlines sponsored our Student STEM Challenge, an annual competition for students participating in the Ripken Foundation's national STEM program, which uses real-world problems to encourage students to apply STEM skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions. Today, we have over 600 completed STEM Centers in 25 states, impacting over 250,000 elementary and middle school students. "The Ripken Foundation's STEM Center program is training young minds to be the future generation of pilots, engineers, scientists, and mechanics. It exposes them to all that is possible while creating equity and access to STEM-related careers," says O'Brien.

In addition, since 2011 Southwest Airlines has supported the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation's overnight Summer Camp program by providing round-trip airfare for the hundreds of at-risk youth who attend the camp each year. At the Ripken Summer Camp, underserved kids from across the country interact with their peers and caring adult mentors who reinforce important life skills like teamwork, communication, and respect. "We try to look at different ways to impact communities we serve. Southwest is the first flight for many of these children that we help bring to the Ripken Summer Camp in Aberdeen, MD. We are creating life experiences that will shape who they are in the future," says O'Brien.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is so proud to have such an invested partner in Southwest Airlines and so grateful for their support. To learn more about our programming or to help us impact more kids in underserved communities, visit www.ripkenfoundation.org.