Santo Domingo.- As JetBlue Airways continues to increase its presence in the Dominican Republic and throughout the Caribbean, the airline has prioritized a value that separates it from the pack; Community Connection. For the second year in a row, JetBlue has teamed up with The DREAM Project to offer hands on support and a connection that goes beyond a distinctive approach to air travel. This event brings together JetBlue crewmembers and business partners from around the country (as well as people from the airline’s headquarters in New York City) with local public schools for a day of service, fun and showing appreciation. The growth of JetBlue in the Dominican Republic has led it to become the largest airline in the country*, and this position comes with a strong belief that the best way to give back is through education. The DREAM Project (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Project) is a U.S. and Dominican non-profit organization that believes quality education is critical to the future of the Dominican Republic. JetBlue has served as an official Ambassador of DREAM since 2010 and has helped provide quality education programs to thousands of children throughout the country.

Last Monday, a team of 20 JetBlue crewmembers and business partners joined 20 students at the Ciudad Paraguay Public School in Santo Domingo to show them just how much they care. The students and crewmembers came together to paint the school, and to celebrate a special contribution that will last a lifetime. The Ciudad Paraguay Model UN Class had an unforgettable trip to New York City this year, representing the Dominican Republic and participating in their annual conference. These students worked tirelessly throughout the year to receive this special invitation, but came up short in one area; funds to pay for the airfare. Thanks to a generous contribution by JetBlue, this dream became a reality. This year, partnering with The DREAM Project, JetBlue was able to give back to the school once again through paint, educational materials, a new computer and the donation of two roundtrip JetBlue tickets to be used to raise funds for the school.

In attendance was another strong community supporter, Damaso Marte, pitcher for the New York Yankees. Mr. Marte, a native of Santo Domingo, has given back to his community to support after school music programs and the Model UN Class. The outpouring of support shows that different sectors of the community can join forces; athletes, responsible corporations and educational non-profit teamed up to empower communities..

According to Kelvin Pabon, General Manager of JetBlue Airways for the Dominican Republic, “We at JetBlue feel privileged to give back through these projects. We understand that our success in the Dominican Republic is because of our customers and our local crewmembers. It is our responsibility to support the community that supports us and this is a small way of saying thank you by contributing to education and workforce development.”

Two days later, JetBlue and DREAM landed in San Jose de Las Matas to celebrate another great partnership, this one with the local public school Escuela Tina Moya. The Santiago-based crew painted classrooms, met new friends and learned more about the world through educational activities and games with the students. After the afternoon of learning, the students, staff and crewmembers gathered together to share dinner.  JetBlue donated educational materials and two roundtrip tickets to help with fundraising for the school.

DREAM Director Jonathan Wunderlich made it clear that there is still much work to be done. “These service projects by JetBlue just illustrate that corporate responsibility can, and does, work here in the Dominican Republic. Our partner schools here in San Jose de Las Matas and Santo Domingo have been amazing, but they still are in need of more resources. It is important that projects like ours spark the interest of other companies operating here in the Dominican Republic to give back, to get involved and prioritize education.”

Thanks to JetBlue, there are more and more children receiving a quality education and expanding their horizons. To learn more about the work JetBlue and The DREAM Project are doing, please visit http://www.jetblue.com/about/community/index.html <http://www.jetblue.com/about/community/index.html> and www.dominicandream.org <http://www.dominicandream.org> .

*based on available seat miles