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NUEVO RENACER, Dominican Republic — As you well know, we have arrived once again at the Christmas season, the season where we immerse ourselves in food, family, traditions and, of course, giving.
Calgary-based airline WestJet is continuing its tradition of giving with its third Christmas video. You may recall last year’s video where WestJet passengers made Christmas wishes before their flight and unexpectedly received their wishes of gadgets, toys and flights home for Christmas when their reached their destination.
But this year, the airline went beyond its more immediate community, upped its game and took its surprise gift giving to the community of Puerto Plata in Nuevo Renacer, Dominican Republic, according to a press release.
Its choice wasn’t arbitrary. The company has worked with the charity Live Different since 2012 to build 23 homes for families living in extreme poverty in the Puerto Plata community. It was also a choice ended up directly affecting the quality of life and livelihoods of the community members.
While the kids asked for toys, adults tended to ask for things for their homes and livelihoods like a crib, a washing machine and a new engine for a livelihood-based motorbike cab.
The pièce de résistance of the giving happened after most of the gifts were given, but one man hadn’t yet received his wish for a horse. That’s when WestJet’s blue Santa comes onto the scene, leading the horse down the beach. The man runs out to greet Santa with pure joy on his face.
The video says it best: “And now it’s clear, one thing we all believe, ’tis better to give than it is to receive.”
