CALGARY — A lot of good can happen when your heart is in the right place, as 48 WestJetters have proven following a humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic.

The goodwill trip, WestJet’s ninth in collaboration with WestJet Live Different Builds, included 11 heartwarming days of building five homes for families in the local community of La Union in Puerto Plata.

This year, in addition to home-building, WestJetters raised more than $18,000 to refurbish a community playground and renovate two additional homes that were in disrepair.

“It is inspiring to see the transformation of the communities that more than 450 WestJetters have volunteered their time and given their hearts to over the past eight years,” said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President Marketing Communications. “As a brand and airline with caring at its core, we are grateful there are hundreds of WestJetters who have significantly changed the lives of these deserving families in the Dominican Republic. We are thankful to work alongside Live Different to continue making these important trips happen.”

Since 2012, WestJet has partnered with Canadian-based charity Live Different to make international community investment possible in one of the airline’s most popular Caribbean destinations.

The Live Different Builds team is WestJet’s on-the-ground charitable partner in the Puerto Plata area. The team works with the local community to ensure the build addresses the neighbourhood’s needs and is done in a healthy and sustainable manner.

“We are extremely proud to work with WestJetters who all exemplify our shared values,” said Alison Willis, Live Different Director of International Programs. “The annual WestJet Live Different Build is only possible because of the commitment of the entire WestJet community. ON behalf of all of us at Live Different, and from our friends and partners in the Dominican Republic, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s work possible.”