Make-A-Wish Hudson Valleys Sends Teen Battling Cancer on Memorable Trip, Thanks to JetBlue

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. - July 5, 2018 - PRLog -- Throughout the month of July, customers on all JetBlue® flights will learn during an inflight video how the airline partnered with Make-A-Wish®Hudson Valley to help give Jimmy, a 17-year-year-old of Orange County, the trip of his lifetime.

The inspiring video will also encourage customers to donate their TrueBlue points to Make-A-Wish® to help grant the wishes of other kids like Jimmy who have battling critical illnesses.

Jimmy's wish was to visit Turks and Caicos for a fun-filled vacation in the tropics, the experience of which he and his family will never forget, thanks in part to how crewmember Joanne DeLessio made the wish trip very memorable. "Joanne made a huge difference in my life and put a huge smile on my face," Jimmy said.

Pleased at the opportunity to be a part of Jimmy's wish, during the flight Joanne made a special announcement, inviting JetBlue customers to celebrate and cheer Jimmy and his family as they began his wish.

By the time the plan landed, the entire cabin joined in celebrating Jimmy's triumph over his battle with cancer, and his wish coming true.  After an exciting trip with his family, Jimmy headed back home where he was surprised by Joanne with a "welcome" back home sign.

On Thursday, July 19, Jimmy and Joanne will be reunited at Make-A-Wish®Hudson Valley's "Taste of the Hudson Valley" when the chapter honors and thanks its donors including JetBlue® which will be given a special shout out for its support.  Hosted by many of the finest chefs in the Hudson Valley, the event will be held from 6:30 to 9 PM at The Lodge at Hudson Harbor, 2 Hudson view Way, Tarrytown.  For more information, contact Megan Laurelli, mlaurelli@hudson.wish.org or 914-478-7057.

Also on hand for the reunion will be Jimmy's parents, Beth and Andy, who noted in the video the unmistakable healing power of granting their son's wish while he was in the hospital undergoing treatment.  "When you have something good to look forward to, it takes your mind off being sick and you get better."

"The impact that JetBlue® has had on our Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley families like Jimmy's parents is deep and wide," said Denise D'Amico, Vice President of Program Services, adding: "JetBlue sets the tone with VIP treatment and customer service that is unparalleled. To have JetBlue crewmembers treat wish kids like royalty is an immeasurable gift."

Thomas J. Conklin, President and CEO, noted: "With over 70% of our wishes requiring air travel, JetBlue's donation of flights to wish kids and their families is a tremendous gift for the chapter for which we are deeply grateful."

Since 2012, through their customer TrueBlue points donations and the airline's matching gifts, JetBlue® has donated 23 million TrueBlue points to help make travel wishes possible.

During the July campaign, JetBlue® will match their customers' point donations, up to one million JetBlue® points, that will enable the non-profit's' travel partner to continue gifting more flights for wish kids and their families.

Only JetBlue® TrueBlue customers can donate points to Make-A-Wish®

About Make-A-Wish^® Hudson Valley

Make-A-Wish^®creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have received a wish are able to build the physical and emotional strength needed to fight critical illnesses. Since it received its charter in 1986, the Hudson Valley Chapter has granted wishes to over 2,700 children in the community it serves.  The Chapter's territory spans eight counties of the Hudson Valley, including Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.  The Chapter is a Better Business Bureau Wise Alliance Accredited Charity, meeting the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.  Additionally, a recent independent audit of the chapter reported that 78% of all funds raised go to program services.
About JetBlue®

JetBlue® is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue® carries more than 38 million customers a year to 101 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of 1,000 daily flights.