PBS KIDS and JetBlue Airways Teamup for Reading Initiative

As schools across the country let out this month, a joint project launched today by New York’s hometown value carrier JetBlue Airways and PBS KIDS aims to keep children reading wherever they go this summer – with a combination of in-flight and online literacy resources, community reading events and a partnership with First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children in need. At the center of the program is the newly launched SoarwithReading.com, where parents can download a free reading activity kit, create a summer reading list with recommendations from Random House Children’s Books and log their children’s reading minutes, among other activities. For every reader who registers on SoarwithReading.com, JetBlue will make a book donation to a child through First Book, up to 10,000 books.

The Soar with Reading program is a joint project of JetBlue and PBS KIDS. Children traveling on JetBlue flights this summer will receive a free activity kit with reading games based on PBS KIDS educational programming. With help from PBS KIDS animated host Hooper, the campaign will also encourage kids to learn about the world around them through imaginative travel: reading books and playing learning games on SoarwithReading.com at home or at their local library.

Coming Soon to a Library Near You!

JetBlue crewmembers, PBS KIDS characters and hosts, and popular children’s authors will be visiting libraries across the country this summer to read with children. The Soar with Reading tour will make stops in several JetBlue cities, including New York, Boston, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

The Soar with Reading program will also award $10,000 worth of Random House Children’s Books to one lucky community’s library. Another library will receive $2,500 worth of books and five other libraries will receive $500 worth of books, courtesy of Random House Children’s Books and JetBlue. To nominate a library, simply visit SoarwithReading.com. Nominate a library and you’ll be eligible to win a JetBlue Getaways family vacation to amazing Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas (a).

About First Book:

First Book has distributed more than 80 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit www.firstbook.org or follow First Book on Facebook and Twitter.

About PBS KIDS:

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for children, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. Each quarter, more than 27 million viewers watch PBS KIDS on TV, and PBSKIDS.org, the number one kids’ entertainment site for free video streaming, attracts more than 10 million unique visitors per month (Nielsen, NTI Q42010; comScore Video Metrix; Google Analytics). For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About JetBlue Airways:

New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. 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 (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) and super-spacious Even More Legroom 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 66 cities with 700 daily flights. Later this year JetBlue plans to introduce service to St. Thomas and St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and La Romana, Dominican Republic, subject to government approval. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information call +1 800 538 2583 from the U.S.A., TTY/TDD +1 800 336 5530, or visit www.jetblue.com.