We invest for strong communities

Week of LIFT: Employees volunteer in communities where we live, work, and fly

Named after the core principle of motion, LIFT allows us to fly, taking people where they need to go. We know that “where someone needs to go” isn’t always a destination city—it could be a community center, a school or shelter—you name it.

During our Week of LIFT, an initiative to make flying matter, more than 700 Alaska and Horizon employees volunteered at over 20 events in nine cities in the United States.

Watch how we surprised kids at a shelter with a new playroom

Employee donation matching and volunteer programs enable employees to make a difference in what matters most to them. Giving back to communities has been an important part of the histories and successes at Alaska and Horizon.

Macklemore residency program

Employees at both companies are often called to help with community outreach programs and events. It takes a small army to pull events like this off and they enjoy every minute of it.

Read more about The Residency

What was it like to meet Alaska Airlines Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson and be part of his "No Time To Sleep" high school graduation celebration? Ask some lucky Alaska and Horizon employees who volunteered at the event. Everyone should take his advice: "Work hard, stay humble and surround yourself with people with the same relentless pursuit to perform at a high level. Keep the faith, keep believing."

Read more about graduation celebration

Inspiring Hawaii’s future tourism leaders

Even in high school, Geraldine “Denden” Ilan knew she wanted a career in sharing aloha.

The 2016 graduate of Waipahu High School on the island of Oahu was inspired when she joined the Leadership, Exploration and Inspiration (LEI) Program offered by ClimbHI, a nonprofit based in Honolulu that gives young people the chance to explore careers in Hawaii’s number one industry: tourism.

Read more about Hawaii’s young leaders