MillionTreesNYC and JetBlue Airways Color NYC Green for the Fifth Consecutive Year to Celebrate Earth Day

NEW YORK, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Restoration Project and its MillionTreesNYC initiative, in partnership with JetBlue Airways, New York's Hometown Airline, announce today the fifth annual One Thing That's Green tree planting event. Volunteers are invited to celebrate Earth Day weekend and "Color NYC Green" by participating on Saturday, April 21st in Long Island City, Queens (LIC) from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nearly 100 trees will be planted in the LIC area, including Queensbridge Park, to further beautify this flourishing neighborhood.

Created by JetBlue to promote environmental awareness, the One Thing That's Green program represents the airline's commitment to green education and volunteerism.  New Yorkers interested in planting trees on April 21st must register in advance at www.jetblue.com/trees. The day-long festivities will take place rain or shine and will be filled with giveaways, complimentary breakfast and lunch and family-fun activities. Those unable to participate on-site can join the 120,000 people who have already committed to maintaining a greener lifestyle by making a pledge at www.jetblue.com/pledge. Participants pledging today will automatically be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win two round-trip flights anywhere across the JetBlue network and $500 towards a JetBlue Getaways vacation package every month for a year (a).

"New York Restoration Project is proud to partner with JetBlue to host this community volunteer day, which will plant nearly 100 trees, as well as clean and beautify the neighborhood," said Amy Freitag, NYRP Executive Director. "We are thankful for the hard work of volunteers and are excited to contrast Long Island City's concrete landscape with much needed vibrant greenery."

MillionTreesNYC is a public-private partnership between NYRP and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation through which one million new trees will be planted and cared for across NYC's five boroughs by 2017. The trees are then cultivated and maintained, thanks to the help of local community groups that aim to sustain the neighborhood, such as Green Shores NYC, a local coalition caring for the East River shoreline and waterfront parks in Astoria and Long Island City, Queens.

"A lively business area will get even more attractive with a green ribbon of trees that will also help to clean the air and provide shade," said NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "On behalf of Parks, I'd like to thank NYRP for its dedication to planting trees and beautifying the landscape. I'd also like to thank JetBlue for sponsoring this event and all the volunteers who will come out to help greening LIC."

JetBlue and NYRP are again partnering with local radio stations, including Clear Channel New York's 106.7 LITE FM, 103.5 KTU and Power 105.1, to further promote the greening of New York City. Z-100's very own Greg T and Power 105.1's Judy Torres will be joining volunteers on April 21st by planting and caring for trees. In previous years, trees were planted as part of this effort in East Harlem, Forest Hills and Jamaica, Queens. To support these efforts, more than 1,900 crewmembers and community volunteers have graciously donated their time to plant over 1,200 trees and clean up nearly three tons of trash.

"Spring is blooming and we're ready to celebrate five years of greening the communities we love and serve with our One Thing That's Green project," said Icema Gibbs, director corporate social responsibility, JetBlue Airways. "As New York's hometown airline, we take seriously our responsibility to make a difference in the environment by getting involved with partners such as New York Restoration Project to ensure that our city remains one of the most vibrant in the world."

Composed of more than five million trees and 168 species, New York City's urban forest is one of the most valuable environmental assets along the East Coast, and a critical component of the city's long-term health and sustainability. MillionTreesNYC works to promote the health, environmental and economic benefits trees provide by hosting tree giveaways, workshops, planting and stewardship events, and launching public service announcements and campaigns to educate New Yorkers on the benefits of planting trees. New Yorkers can visit the program's site, www.milliontreesnyc.org, to learn more about how they can contribute by planting a tree, adopting a tree, or making a donation to the initiative.

About New York Restoration Project
Founded by Bette Midler in 1995, York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming open space in underserved communities to create a greener, more sustainable New York City. In partnership with the City of New York, NYRP is also leading MillionTreesNYC – an initiative to plant and care for one million new trees throughout New York City's five boroughs by 2017. The initiative has currently planted more than 558,000 trees.

About JetBlue Corporate Social Responsibility
JetBlue is committed to the cities it serves through support and alignment with not-for-profit organizations that focus on children, education, communities and the environment. Through a variety of programs and activities, JetBlue crewmembers are encouraged to help make an impact and inspire greatness in others while enriching the lives of individuals and communities across the airline's network. Through JetBlue's Community Connection Volunteer Program and other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, JetBlue partners with a variety of philanthropic and community-focused organizations, including KaBOOM!, DoSomething.org, The American Cancer Society and their Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks; First Book, a not-for-profit organization with the mission to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books; and PBS KIDS, where JetBlue partnered to create Soar with Reading – Let Your Imagination Take Flight, a literacy campaign to help raise readers. In addition, JetBlue has created a platform called Jetting to Green which encourages environmentally-friendly practices through education and volunteerism.

About JetBlue Airways           
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™ with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline as well as super-spacious Even More Space seats. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 70 cities with 750 daily flights with new service from Boston to Dallas/Fort Worth launching later this year. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JET-BLUE (1-800-538-2583), TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530, or visit www.jetblue.com.

(a) No purchase necessary to enter or receive a prize.  Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01 a.m. EDST on March 27 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on April 30, 2012. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years or older at the time entry.  Void in Puerto Rico, outside the U.S. and where prohibited and restricted by law. See Official Rules for details. 

CONTACT: DKC on behalf of Clear Channel Radio, 106.7 LITE FM, Christina Stejskal
(212) 981-5135 [email protected]

JetBlue Airways Corporate Communications
(718) 709-3089 [email protected]

New York Restoration Project, Anne Tan
(212) 333-2552 [email protected]

SOURCE JetBlue Airways