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WestJetters building communities in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

CALGARY, Sept. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced a three-year, enhanced partnership with Canadian charity Live Different and its Hero Holiday program, an initiative providing year-round global humanitarian opportunities in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Thailand.

Since 2012, WestJet has supported Live Different with the WestJet Hero Holiday program on an annual basis in the community of Nuevo Renacer, located near Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. This year's Hero Holiday, taking place in October, marks the beginning of a new three-year partnership with the organization.

"Our goal is to find meaningful ways to extend WestJet's culture of care into the communities we serve," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. "Over the last 18 years, WestJet has supported thousands of charities across Canada through our WestJet Cares for Kids, WestJetters Caring for Our Community and Airport Giving community investment programs. A new three-year commitment to Live Different enables us to dig a bit deeper and develop a long-term relationship with the people of Nuevo Renacer, through the contribution of our enthusiastic volunteer base and this terrific Canadian charity."

"A successful partnership works when there is an alignment in values and proven integrity to support those values," said Charles Roberts, Executive Director, Live Different. "Live Different's mission is to embrace and inspire a lifestyle that cares for people. WestJet cares too, and our shared values are why a partnership with WestJet works so well. We look forward to continuing working and growing alongside WestJet, while having some fun along the way. Together, I believe we are making a positive impact."

Over the next three years, WestJet will provide flight vouchers, WestJetter Hero Holiday volunteers building a minimum of five homes per year - including homes for eight families in 2014 - and flight discounts for other Hero Holiday participants and Live Different Academy volunteers. This long-term agreement, along with the airline's involvement with several other charitable organizations, is part of WestJet's ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and investing in the communities it serves.

Since the inaugural WestJet trip in April 2012, more than 150 WestJetters have participated in three Hero Holiday trips, building a total of 15 homes for 15 deserving families in addition to other community-based enhancements.

About Live Different
Live Different is a Canadian charity that exists to embrace and inspire a lifestyle that cares for people, not stuff. Live Different accomplishes this by providing experiential programs that engage lives on a personal level. These strategically linked programs include high school motivational presentations, which have impacted over 1.1 million students; international volunteer trips, which gives volunteers the opportunity to assist in development projects in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Thailand; and the Live Different Academy, a gap-year program where young adults are mentored, gain cross-cultural experience, and are transformed in their thinking, their actions, and their focus for the future.

For more information or to find out how to participate in their programs, contact 1-866-432-4464 or visit livedifferent.com

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to 90 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120 destinations in more than 20 countries.

With WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of WestJet's Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars toward the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods  ̶  even on seat sales.

For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

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2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)
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SOURCE WestJet