WNBA And Southwest Airlines Recognize Illinois Family Through Shoot for Hope Program

-- Lowery Family of Dixon, Ill. Receives Special WNBA Experience --

NEW YORK, JULY 2006 - The Women's National Basketball Association and Southwest Airlines recognized the Lowery family of Dixon, IL, for their display of strength and courage during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House. For the second straight year the WNBA and Southwest Airlines have teamed up through the Shoot for Hope program to give families who have stayed at Ronald McDonald Houses the opportunity to experience WNBA games and meet their favorite players. Shoot For Hope is a part of WNBA Cares, the league's global community outreach initiative.

The Lowerys traveled via Southwest Airlines to New York where they were special guests at the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game Presented by Vonage. The game, which matched Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings and her Eastern Conference teammates against Houston Comet Sheryl Swoopes and the Western Conference squad, was held on Wednesday, July 12, at Madison Square Garden and televised live by ESPN.

Amanda Lowery and her family first stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago with their five-year-old son, Jacob, six months after he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May, 2003. A cancer of the lymphoid tissue, Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma most often occurs in patients ranging from 40-70 years of age. Jacob has been in remission for a year and getting stronger each day, but is still under the close supervision of his grandmother, mother and nurses.

"Jacob is a sweet kid," said his grandmother, Bonnie. "He has a great heart, and to take his mind off of being sick his family tries to keep him occupied with fun activities. Jacob once gave up his Chicago White Sox playoff tickets to a girl he thought was in worse condition then he because he thought the tickets would help her feel better.

"I believe that anything you can do for kids that are sick, anything that will distract them from being sick, is great. We're extremely grateful to Southwest Airlines, the WNBA and the Shoot for Hope program for this opportunity on Jacob's behalf."

Besides interacting with players, coaches and entertainers at the All-Star classic, the Lowery's also will receive a variety of gifts, including WNBA memorabilia.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 62 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,000 flights a day and has over 31,000 employees systemwide.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, breast health awareness, youth and family development, and education.
WNBA Cares is a part of NBA Cares, an initiative through which the league, its players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years.

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