Carnival
Cruise Line President Christine Duffy earned her wings this week in support
of a noble cause by skydiving over Tampa Bay to support
hurricane relief efforts. Her daring tandem skydive was part of a
fundraiser that brought in more than $85,000 for the Gary Sinise Foundation,
aiding those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Duffy’s inspiring
leap of faith coincided with the leisure line’s inaugural Special Forces Legacy
Initiatives (SFLI) cruise, which sails aboard Carnival Paradise. Additionally, the Micky and Madeleine Arison
Family Foundation has pledged to match the funds raised, with those funds being
donated to the Wounded Warrior Project for veterans of the armed forces.
Duffy’s awe-inspiring
jump occurred just as Carnival Paradise departed from the Port of Tampa Bay.
She met the challenge alongside members of the USSOCOM Para-Commandos the U.S.
Special Operations Command's premier aerial parachute demonstration team, as
well as the Round Canopy Parachute Team, a non-profit dedicated to honoring the
WWII’s Allied Airborne Forces. Duffy leapt from the historic aircraft the “Tico
Belle”, a WWII-era C-47 airplane flown during the legendary D-Day invasion of Normandy
beaches on June 6, 1944.
“Jumping from a
plane was a rush, but the real thrill is supporting a meaningful cause in one
of our important homeport communities,” Duffy said in a statement. “I thought
my first-ever skydive would be a good fundraising opportunity, and I’m so
grateful to everyone who donated to this effort. I’m proud we can deliver this
significant donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation, a great organization
supporting the work of military and first responders assisting in hurricane
relief efforts.
The exhilarating skydive
itself was part of a larger day of festivities that took place at the Port of
Tampa Bay, which included a special performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan
Band, as well as various activities aboard Carnival Paradise.
The SFLI had
chartered the vessel for a five-day journey to The Bahamas,
providing an opportunity for Special Forces veterans and their families, Gold
Star families and friends to enjoy a well-deserved vacation while forging
community bonds. The very first dedicated SFLI voyage constitutes an at-sea reunion
of Green Berets who have served from the Korean War to the present day.
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