• December 18, 2012

JetBlue Airways, on behalf of its customers and crew members, donated $820,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the New York metro-area.

Following Hurricane Sandy, JetBlue launched jetbluegives.org to engage customers and TrueBlue members in fund raising efforts for the Red Cross. Throughout November, customers donated $720,000 to support the relief and recovery efforts of impacted communities. JetBlue matched the first $100,000, bringing the grand total to $820,000.

Rob Maruster, JetBlue's chief operating officer (COO), and Robin Hayes, JetBlue's chief commercial officer (CCO) were joined by two customers who donated via jetbluegives.org in presenting the check to the Red Cross.

JetBlue's relationship with the Red Cross is an ongoing collaboration. Maruster currently serves as Board Chair of the American Red Cross of Greater New York. Also, through this partnership, more than 500 JetBlue crew members have joined the Red Cross 'Ready When the Time Comes' (RWTC) program that trains community-based volunteers to mobilize with the Red Cross during a disaster.

JetBlue's JetBlueGives.org was powered by KULA Causes and provided an immediate platform for JetBlue's customers to donate directly to relief efforts right in their local communities in the New York tri-state area. For every one dollar donated via the site, TrueBlue members received six TrueBlue points in return. Through this transactional giving program, JetBlue's loyal customers became donors providing much needed, time-sensitive charitable donations.--Tanya Irwin