TORONTO — Sunwing is giving back to the destinations it serves through a new initiative that provides students at local schools with the essential tools they need for a successful education.

Launched through the Sunwing Foundation, the Flying Start program involves the collection of gently-used and new children’s books at the 2018 National Home Show, taking place March 9-18 at Toronto’s Enercare Centre. As an incentive for attendees to donate, they will receive $2 off a regular priced, general admission ticket.

Once collected, the books will be flown to the Caribbean via Sunwing Airlines and given to students at selected schools across the region.

“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. 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 has 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 please visit sunwingfoundation.com.