United Airlines and the Chicago Bears partnered to promote the airline’s Special Olympics Service Ambassador program. On Wednesday, United Airlines partnered with the Chicago Bears football team to assist Special Olympics Ambassadors at O’Hare International Airport. Cole Kmet, a Chicago Bears player, spent the day working with Special Olympics Service Ambassadors to raise awareness of the organization’s travel needs. A noble cause. In 2019, United introduced the Special Olympics Service Ambassador (SOSA) program, which encourages Special Olympics athletes to serve as part-time airport employees. Their responsibilities include greeting United customers, directing them to check-in kiosks, bag drops, and TSA PreCheck queues, as well as assisting customers with wayfinding, gate recovery, and Agent on Demand.
There are already 18 SOSA workers at United hubs in Chicago, Houston, Denver, and Washington, DC, and the program will be expanded this year to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Special Olympics, started in 1968, is a global movement that uses sport and educational, health, and leadership programs to abolish prejudice against persons with intellectual impairments. In 2023, 4,000 Special Olympics athletes, coaches, Unified partners, and staff from North America will travel across the country and around the world for sport and educational development, athletic tournaments, and leadership training. United helps by giving travel and urging its loyalty program members to donate unused miles through the airline’s Miles on a Mission initiative.