DRI Foundation Celebrates Partnership Between Tri-State Canine Response Team and JetBlue

The DRI Foundation is proud to highlight a match made in heaven between one of our nonprofit grant recipients, the Tri-State Canine Response Team, and our first Nonprofit Champion organization, JetBlue Airways! 

Those of you who attended DRI2024 in New Orleans, LA, will remember the dogs from the Tri-State Canine Response Team – in the exhibit hall, at the DRI Awards ceremony, and during the breakout sessions. They made a wonderful impact on our conference and continue to serve those in need in the United States and around the world, by providing crisis response and stress management on a moment’s notice to those in need of support during the worst of times.

But for a nonprofit organization like Tri-State, travel is expensive, ranging from $8,000-$10,000 per deployment. Support and generosity from others are essential to being able to deliver their mission. Through the DRI Foundation, Tri-State was introduced to JetBlue, which stepped up in a monumental way, by donating flights during crisis at no cost to fly both the dogs and their handlers.

“Taking the dogs to JetBlue, and being welcomed in by the JetBlue family, it felt like we had known them for years. The DRI Foundation Giving Committee was instrumental in coordinating this effort and matching us together,” said Janice Campbell, Tri-State Canine Response Team Founder. “We know that we cannot do this by ourselves. and the efforts of the JetBlue team go above and beyond to enable us to help people as quickly as possible and at no cost. This is beyond a partnership with JetBlue. We feel like we are part of a trusted team where we can work together and support communities in their time of their greatest need. We couldn’t do this alone, and we can’t thank JetBlue and the DRI Foundation enough for their unwavering commitment and dedication.”

Because of this generosity, we recognize JetBlue among our DRI Foundation Nonprofit Champions program! A first of its kind in the industry, the program offers a unique opportunity for companies to support amazing nonprofits while spotlighting their charitable efforts to a global community of DRI International Certified Professionals and DRI Foundation supporters.

“We’re excited to see the kind of work the Nonprofit Champions program can achieve,” said Al Berman, DRI Foundation President.

“Creating a connection between these two organizations has been a great experience and we can’t wait to see it in action,” said Frank Perlmutter, DRI Foundation Giving Director.

“It’s an honor to partner with Tri-State Canine Response Team and support their mission,” said Penny Neferis, JetBlue Director of Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Emergency Response. “They are true professionals who perform incredible work to those in need of assistance.  We thank the DRI Foundation for making the introduction to each other.”

Recently, Tri-State Canine Response Team and the DRI Foundation visited JetBlue headquarters in New York to celebrate this generous partnership. Here are the fantastic pictures of our visit, along with over 1,000 of JetBlue’s crew members!

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If you would like to learn more about becoming a Nonprofit Champion or how you can work with the DRI Foundation to support your favorite charity, please contact Frank Perlmutter, Director of the DRI Foundation Giving Committee, at fperlmutter@driif.org.