JetBlue Builds Playgrounds in Areas Impacted By Hurricane Sandy

JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU), New York’s Hometown AirlineTM, today announced a commitment to build three playgrounds in areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Dozens of cities in New York and New Jersey are still struggling to rebuild. With essential infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and roads being the primary focus, playgrounds and play spaces take a lower priority.

Following natural disasters, play becomes even more critical as it creates a sense of normalcy and provides an emotional outlet for kids. In an effort to support the affected children, JetBlue has extended its pledge to rebuild New York with a commitment to build three playgrounds during 2013 in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

JetBlue’s first post-Hurricane Sandy playground build will take place on May 18 at Magnolia Playground in Long Beach, NY. Long Beach, located in Nassau County, Long Island, experienced significant damage to its shoreline and infrastructure. This playground was destroyed nearly six months ago and hundreds of children living in the area have not had a suitable place to play since Hurricane Sandy. A lack of play has profound physical, social and cognitive consequences on children. While playgrounds are important for all children, they’re vital for kids who need to de-stress and work through traumatic events. Two more builds will be announced later this Spring.

“Through our longstanding partnership with KaBOOM!, we work together to create playgrounds in neighborhoods that are lacking resources. This year, we are concentrating our efforts to rebuild play spaces that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy,” said Michael Stromer, vice president of customer connections marketing at JetBlue Airways. “Long Beach and Nassau County are right in our backyard. We have many crewmembers and customers who live there and have been directly impacted by the storm. Rebuilding in these communities is particularly important to JetBlue. We are simply supporting our neighbors.”

While every KaBOOM! playground build is an inspiring event, the post-Hurricane Sandy builds will give volunteers a special chance to reflect on the storm’s impact while revitalizing their neighborhoods. More than 200 volunteers from JetBlue, the City of Long Beach, Surf For All, KaBOOM! and residents of the local community will join forces to build a new play space at Magnolia Playground. The new playground’s design is based on drawings created by children who participated in a Design Day event in March.

“In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, we’ve received a tremendous outpouring of support,” said Eileen J. Goggin, city council member for the city of Long Beach. “Magnolia Playground has been a popular city park for decades, and we are so appreciative of our wonderful sponsors and dedicated volunteers who are so generously assisting us with this terrific rebuilding project.”

“Every child deserves to have a great place to play and I’m proud that JetBlue and KaBOOM! are joining together with the community to build the children of Long Beach a terrific new playground,” said Darell Hammond, founder and CEO at KaBOOM! “It is absolutely critical for children to have an emotional outlet in a time of tragedy and there is no substitute for a great playground.”

Magnolia Playground is the 17th playground build by KaBOOM! in partnership with JetBlue. The two have worked together over the last seven years to create safe play spaces for children in underserved neighborhoods and areas rebuilding following natural disasters. This partnership has successfully engaged more than 3,800 volunteers, benefitting more than 10,000 children. JetBlue Airways is a KaBOOM! National Partner, providing long-term guidance and support to KaBOOM! and its mission.

Since Hurricane Sandy, JetBlue has coordinated several efforts to provide assistance to its neighbors and crewmembers and help rebuild communities in New York. Just last month, JetBlue made significant progress in revitalizing Highland Park in Brooklyn. Airline crewmembers and community volunteers planted more than 2,500 trees in an area identified by the New York City Parks Department as a priority location for revitalization efforts. The 100-acre park lost a significant stretch of trees due to Hurricane Sandy. Additionally, in the days following the storm, JetBlue partnered with the NYC Food Truck Association to serve more than 25,000 meals to residents in impacted areas. The airline’s customers also donated $720,000 through JetBlueGives.org to support the relief and recovery efforts of impacted communities. JetBlue matched the first $100,000 bringing the grand total to $820,000.