WestJet and LiveDifferent celebrate a decade of partnership in Dominican Republic
This week, WestJet is celebrating 10 years of its WestJet LiveDifferent Builds Program – a humanitarian aid trip conducted in partnership with LiveDifferent in the Dominican Republic that provides WestJetters the opportunity to give back to one of the many popular destinations the airline serves.
Each year, 50 WestJetters travel to the popular tourist destination to work alongside local translators, contractors and community members to build new homes with/for families and individuals living in extreme poverty. As WestJet celebrates 10 years of this impactful community program, the airline is recognizing the efforts of the 500 WestJetters who have contributed to building 53 homes.
“Celebrating 10 years of the WestJet LiveDifferent Builds program is a testament to the care and compassion of our WestJetters, who care deeply about giving back to the communities we serve,” said April Crane, Director, Internal and External Communications, WestJet. “Through this program, lifelong connections have been formed not only with the deserving families in the Dominican Republic, but with their greater communities. We remain thankful to work alongside LiveDifferent to continue making these important humanitarian builds happen.”
An established Canadian charity with international operations, LiveDifferent works in the Dominican Republic to ensure the homes WestJetters build address local needs and are sustainable. LiveDifferent also oversees project management, hires local contractors and translators to work alongside volunteers and provide on-site instruction and support.
Charles Roberts, CEO, LiveDifferent, had this to say: “The impact is far and wide — from the individual families who received their new homes, to the ripple effect on their surrounding communities and the impact on the WestJetters themselves — it's almost immeasurable really. The partnership that LiveDifferent and WestJet share is one that has been written about, it has been studied by others and is certainly something for which we are forever grateful. There is a lot to celebrate here. I would like to thank WestJet for journeying with us, for being our friends, and for working diligently alongside us and the communities in the Dominican Republic to ensure a true sense of symbiotic philanthropy is achieved for everyone involved.”
Watch the WestJet LiveDifferent Builds tenth anniversary celebration and ripple effect video:
In addition to the on-ground efforts as part of the WestJet LiveDifferent Builds program, WestJet and WestJetters have fundraised more than $100,000 in additional funds over the last 10 years. This funding has gone back into the communities that LiveDifferent works in, in the Dominican Republic to improve infrastructure, create sustainability and supports local projects.
For more information on LiveDifferent Builds and all of WestJet’s Community Investment initiatives, visit https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/who-we-are/cares.
