WestJet joins David Foster Foundation in support of organ donation

Airline and WestJet Cares for Kids partner host awareness events

CALGARY, Feb. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - Today WestJet and WestJet Cares for Kids charitable partner, the David Foster Foundation, are sponsoring information booths in airports across Canada to raise awareness on the impact of life-saving organ transplants, and handing out special luggage tags designed to encourage people to "Be an organ donor. Save a life."

Also today, at WestJet's Calgary campus, WestJet President Gregg Saretsky will be joined by David Foster Foundation CEO Michael Ravenhill at an event designed to highlight the partnership between the two organizations and why hard conversations about donating organs are essential.

"WestJetters are passionate about getting involved with charities like the David Foster Foundation, an organization that shares our commitment to positively impact the lives of children and families," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. "The Foundation does a great job of supporting Canadian families waiting for life-saving transplants, while also educating communities on the importance of informed consent and organ donation. Today, and all through the month of February, WestJetters are working together to help further the mandate of the foundation and encourage Canadians to become organ donors and save lives."

"WestJet has been an instrumental supporter of the David Foster Foundation for more than five years," said Michael Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer, the David Foster Foundation. "We are so thankful for the gifts of flight we have received. These flights have allowed us to fly children to their transplant medical appointments, and fly family members to be by their child's side during their time of need. We are so inspired by the spirit and culture of WestJetters, and so proud to call them our partners."

The David Foster Foundation, which formally became a WestJet Cares for Kids partner in 2014, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial support for non-medical expenses to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. In celebration of the inaugural year of the WestJet Cares for Kids partnership, WestJet hosted the 2014 David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala in its Calgary hangar. The event raised more than eight million dollars, money that will assist Canadian families coping with pediatric organ transplants.

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 more than 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. Leveraging 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 our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards 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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2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
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2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
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2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
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