JetBlue Supports The White House’s ‘Let Girls Learn’ Initiative
March 17, 2016 /3BL Media/ - On International Women’s Day and in celebration of Women’s History Month, JetBlue recently joined first lady Michelle Obama to raise awareness for the White House's Let Girls Learn Initiative. Today, Mrs. Obama announced additional commitments to the cause as part of her visit to South by Southwest. Let Girls Learn is a U.S. government initiative aimed at helping adolescent girls throughout the world attain a quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential.
JetBlue joined with many other companies in support of the initiative. The airline pledged to produce an original seatback video about Let Girls Learn to support the cause and inspire its customers to do the same. The video will run on all flights throughout JetBlue’s network. Additionally, JetBlue will provide financial and in-kind donations to the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund.
“Education transforms communities and is a core pillar in JetBlue’s mission of inspiring humanity,” said Icema Gibbs, director, corporate social responsibility, JetBlue. “One third of our network is the Caribbean and Latin America, including several countries that are under development. Public-private partnerships are crucial for opportunities and access to education in the developing world. We look forward to working with Let Girls Learn to help reduce barriers that prevent girls from completing their education.”
On March 9, First Lady Michelle Obama held an event at Union Market in Washington, D.C. JetBlue hosted a booth for attendees to learn more about its award-winning Soar With Reading initiative including the airline’s recent innovative vending machines that dispenses brand-new free books to children ages 0 – 14 in underserved areas. In 2015, JetBlue placed these thoughtfully designed vending machines in Anacostia (DC). Three vending machines were placed in locations where families naturally are in the community. Kids were allowed to take as many books as they were interested in -- no strings attached. JetBlue sought to prove that providing free access and exposure to books in a fun and convenient way would encourage reading.
To learn more about JetBlue’s Corporate Social Responsibility platform visit www.JetBlue.com/CSR.
About Let Girls Learn:
The recently released FY 2017 President’s Budget has requested more than $100 million in new funds for the initiative, building on the $250 million in funds requested in the FY 2016 President’s Budget to launch the initiative. Additionally, foreign governments, including Japan, South Korea and the UK, have collectively pledged nearly $600 million towards global girls’ education programming. Domestically, the first lady is galvanizing students to become global citizens, from launching the #62MillionGirls social media campaign last September, to releasing the Let Girls Learn toolkit at last summer’s Girl Up Summit, to talking directly to girls at the Apollo Theater at this fall’s The Power of an Educated Girl town hall with Glamour Magazine. Another key approach to making Let Girls Learn a success is through public private partnerships.
Contact Information:
Tamara Young
Manager Corporate Communications
JetBlue
Desk: (718) 709-3537
Media Hotline (24/7): 718 709-3089
To Jet: Call 1-800-JETBLUE or log on to jetblue.com
