Sunwing Foundation launches Flying Start initiative

The Sunwing Foundation has launched the Flying Start initiative to provide students at local schools across the destinations served by the travel company with all the essential tools and building blocks for a successful education.

The program collects new and gently-used books.

Sunwing Airlines flies them to schools in need of materials, together with backpacks filled with stationery and other essential supplies.

The first phase of Flying Start involves the collection of gently used and new children’s books at the 2018 National Home Show, now taking place in Toronto.

“The Sunwing Foundation is committed to supporting youth and education projects in the destinations that we serve.” says Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group.

“The timing of this campaign over March Break – when families often have extra time together — could not be better. Being able to establish a book collection at home and go to school with all the essentials needed for a successful education is a luxury not everyone gets.”

The launch of the initiative follows a number of projects undertaken by the foundation which is supported by a spare change program on board Sunwing Airlines.

All donations received are match funded by Sunwing Travel Group, which passes on all of donated funds to the charities in need.

The Sunwing Foundation constructed a school in Jamaica in partnership with Food for the Poor Canada in 2015.

More recently, the foundation has partnered with Books Give Us Wings to deliver several hundreds of donated books to local schools in Jamaica and assisted GlobalMedic with the transportation of humanitarian aid following the impact of Hurricane Irma.

The foundation also made a significant contribution towards the major renovation project for Castries Comprehensive Secondary School in St Lucia that is scheduled for completion later this month.

For more information on the Flying Start program visit sunwingfoundation.com.