CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) collaborated with the Chicago Bears at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to support Special Olympics, Inc.
Chicago Bears Tight End Cole Kmet joined the airline’s Special Olympics Service Ambassadors to raise awareness of the organization’s travel needs.
United Chicago Bears Partnership
United initiated the Special Olympics Service Ambassador (SOSA) Program in 2019, inviting Special Olympics athletes to work in airports part-time. These employees assist United customers by guiding them to check-in kiosks, bag drop locations, and TSA PreCheck lines.
Beyond the lobby, SOSAs help travelers with wayfinding, gate recovery, and Agent on Demand services. Currently, there are 18 SOSA workers at United hubs in Chicago, Houston, Denver, and Washington, D.C., with plans to expand to Los Angeles and San Francisco this year.
Additionally, United has sponsored Special Olympics Plane Pull® competitions, supported local volunteer events, and contributed to the Special Olympics World Games globally.
Last year, 4,000 Special Olympics athletes, coaches, Unified partners, and staff from North America traveled across the country and globally for sports, educational development, athletic competitions, and leadership events. United supports the Special Olympics by providing travel and encouraging its loyalty program members to donate unused miles through the Miles on a Mission program.
Additionally, United’s sponsorship of Special Olympics’ annual Capitol Hill Day events enabled 49 Special Olympics Programs from 47 states to participate in over 300 crucial meetings between athletes and lawmakers in Washington, DC. Since 2017, United has donated over $8.5 million in travel miles and cash to support Special Olympics athletes.
The collaboration between United and the Chicago Bears demonstrates their ongoing support. Chicago Bears Tight End Cole Kmet joined United SOSA Daniel Smrokowski, struggling to keep pace.
“Daniel’s energy was tremendous. He was moving around all day, smiling and greeting each passerby. It was hard trying to keep up with him! Daniel is an inspiration, and I’m proud and honored to have spent the day with my new friend,” Kmet said.
Proud Supporter of Special Olympics
The Chicago Bears have been proud supporters of Special Olympics Illinois for decades, maintaining a strong bond that continues today.
The Special Olympics Service Ambassadors are preparing for United’s busiest summer season ever, with a 5% increase in customers flying the airline this June, July, and August.
“I’ve been part of the United Airlines team as a Service Ambassador since the role was created. It’s exciting to have the support of the Chicago Bears and to see United expand our Service Ambassador team across hubs,” said Smrokowski. “As Special Olympics athletes, we understand the importance of collaboration and communication, just like the Chicago Bears. We use these skills to help travelers in the airport.”
United has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for eight consecutive years, consistently earning a top score on the Disability Equality Index. According to a 2018 report by the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire, only 19.1% of people with intellectual disabilities were employed in the United States, compared to 61.8% of people without disabilities.
“Employing Special Olympics Service Ambassadors is a gift to both our United team and our customers in airports,” said Omar Idris, Vice President of United Airlines at Chicago O’Hare Hub. “Through the SOSA program and business resource groups like Bridge for people of all abilities, United Airlines strives to create an inclusive and dynamic workplace environment.”
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