JetBlue Airways Calls on New Yorkers to Do “One Thing That’s Green” and Plant 300 Trees on April 18th
**Volunteers to Help Green Queens, New York in JetBlue’s ”˜One Thing That’s Green’ Day with partners New York Restoration Project, MillionTreesNYC, NYCHA and Local Radio Stations**
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the second year in a row, New York’s Hometown Airline JetBlue Airways is inviting hundreds of New Yorkers to do “One Thing That’s Green” by participating in a community tree planting day to support the MillionTreesNYC movement on Saturday, April 18th. The volunteer event will take place from 9:00 a.m. ”“ 3:00 p.m. at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Pomonok Houses in Queens, NY. One Thing That’s Green by JetBlue Airways is part of an effort to help Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and NYRP Founder Bette Midler reach their shared goal of planting and caring for one million new trees across the city’s five boroughs by 2017.
JetBlue has partnered with New York Restoration Project, the Greening of NYCHA Initiative, 106.7 Lite FM, 103.5 KTU and Power 105.1 to engage hundreds of New Yorkers who will plant 300 trees as they take the opportunity to do their “One Thing That’s Green.” Last spring JetBlue and hundreds of volunteers planted trees in East Harlem, contributing to the City of New York and the MillionTreesNYC initiative planting over 173,000 trees citywide in its first three planting seasons. The goal of MillionTreesNYC is to raise New Yorkers’ environmental awareness, as well as bring the health, environmental and economic benefits trees provide to the city’s residents and neighborhoods ”“ benefits that include shading homes during hot summer months, protecting the city’s waterways from pollutants, cooling playgrounds and sidewalks, encouraging outdoor play and exercise, reducing storm water runoff and fighting global warming.
Volunteers can register at www.jetblue.com/trees. The day-long festivities will kick off rain or shine promptly at 9:00 a.m. with check-in at Pomonok Playground, located at the corner of Kissena Boulevard and 65th Avenue. Special guests, including JetBlue CEO Dave Barger, will stop by to kick-off morning activities or join closing ceremonies in the afternoon. The day will be filled with giveaways, surprises and fun activities, including a special appearance from Power 105.1’s Ed Lover from 1:00 p.m. ”“ 3:00 p.m.
“As New York’s hometown airline, hundreds of New Yorkers jet with JetBlue every day to destinations far and wide, but right here in our home borough of Queens there is so much we can do to make environmental initiatives a priority,” said Icema Gibbs, director corporate social responsibility, JetBlue Airways. “We are taking action by planting trees with the New York Restoration Project and invite the community to join us. Each one of us, whether an individual or a corporation, can do at least one thing to help protect our environment.”
“New York Restoration Project is proud to once again join forces with JetBlue Airways in inviting New Yorkers to do ”˜one thing that’s green’ on April 18 and help New York City achieve its MillionTreesNYC planting goal,” said Drew Becher, NYRP executive director. “JetBlue is thinking globally as it recognizes the important benefits trees bring our neighborhoods and citizens, while planting locally by engaging the company’s employees and community volunteers in tree planting and the greening of Queens.”
JetBlue Airways
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft “BetaBlue,” a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America’s first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue’s control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 53 cities with 600 daily flights. New service begins to Montego Bay, Jamaica in May and to Los Angeles International Airport in June. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.
New York Restoration Project
New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reclaiming and restoring New York City parks, community gardens and open space. In partnership with the City of New York, NYRP is also leading MillionTreesNYC ”“ an initiative to plant one million new trees throughout New York City’s five boroughs by 2017.
Since the organization’s founding by Bette Midler in 1995, NYRP has achieved dramatic results by investing in the greening and beautification of underserved communities throughout New York City. NYRP staff, AmeriCorps members and community volunteers have planted hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs and flowers to support the restoration of our city’s parks and community gardens; restored and helped maintain six New York City parks; and removed over 1,905 tons of garbage from the City’s open space. In 1999, Midler and NYRP saved 114 community gardens from commercial development and established the New York Garden Trust to ensure NYRP’s precious plots of land remain public gardens in perpetuity. For more information on NYRP, visit www.nyrp.org.
