Lutheran Social Services of New York (LSSNY) recently received 40 bicycles from JetBlue for children in our foster care program. The donation was part of the third annual JetBlue For Good Bike Build program. Each y
ear, the program honors Aviation Maintenance Technician Day on May 24, by celebrating the legacy of Charles Taylor, who built the engine used to power the airplane of the Wright Brothers. The Tech Ops and Corporate Social Responsibility teams at JetBlue created the bike program.
“The bicycles are a wonderful gift to the children at LSSNY’s foster care program,” said Damyn Kelly, President & CEO of LSSNY. “It allows them to stay physically active during the summer months and gives them the opportunity to enjoy the simple, childhood pleasure of riding a bike.”
“Charles E. Taylor was the original airline mechanic and worked for the Wright brothers. While his most famous contribution was building engines for the very first aircraft, his background was far more humble – he fixed bicycles in Wilbur and Orville’s shop,” said Icema Gibbs, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at JetBlue. “This is exactly what our JetBlue For Good platform is about. This couple with our mission of inspiring humanity is why we choose Charles E. Taylor Day to swap out our high-tech tools for the most basic of wrenches and hex keys to build bikes for children in foster care,” said Ms. Gibbs.
This year, JetBlue donated 500 bikes to children in the foster care system. The donation was made possible through a partnership with Together We Rise, a nonprofit that supports children in the foster care system. The bicycles will be presented to the children at an upcoming LSSNY graduation ceremony on June 29, which will highlight students who have done exceptional work.
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About LSSNY: Founded in 1886, Lutheran Social Services of New York is a nonprofit social service organization devoted to strengthening lives, families and communities. Lutheran Social Services of New York has developed a wide range of educational and community programs to assist people across New York to reach their full potential. To learn more, visit www.lssny.org.
About JetBlue For Good: JetBlue For Good is JetBlue’s platform for social impact and corporate responsibility. Giving back is part of JetBlue’s DNA and is core to its mission of inspiring humanity. Centered around volunteerism and service, JetBlue For Good focuses on the areas that are most important to the airline’s customers and crewmembers: Community, youth/education and the environment. JetBlue’s core programs and partnerships directly impact the areas where its customers and crewmembers live and work by enhancing education and providing access to those that are traditionally underserved. Signature programs include the award-winning Soar with Reading initiative which has provided nearly million worth of books to kids who need them most; Blue Horizons For Autism, which helps introduce air travel in a realistic environment to families and children affected by autism; and Swing For Good, which raises funds for education and youth focused non-profits.