Carnival
Cruise Line President Christine Duffy is gearing up for a tandem
skydive over Tampa Bay on October 19 as part of an effort to raise funds
for hurricane relief efforts through the Gary Sinise Foundation. Initially
setting a fundraising goal of $50,000, Duffy recently increased the target to
$75,000 to aid communities impacted by Hurricanes
Helene and Milton.
Now, the fundraising efforts are gaining more momentum thanks to the support of
the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, which has pledged to match
all donations.
“Our hearts go out
to all those who have been impacted by the devastation of Hurricanes Milton and
Helene. I am so grateful to all who have donated and continue to step up
for hurricane relief efforts as I get ready to jump from 10,000 feet
above Tampa Bay with members of the Special Forces,” said Duffy. “The
outpouring of donations has been heartwarming, and I’m especially honored that
Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine have offered
their support by matching funds.”
Duffy’s skydive
will take place as part of the cruise line’s inaugural Special Forces Legacy
Initiatives (SFLI) voyage, which will sail aboard Carnival Paradise. A
first-of-its-kind event, the SFLI cruise brings together special forces alumni,
their families, Gold Star families and friends for a five-day journey to The Bahamas.
At the start of
this unique sailing, Duffy will jump from the “Tico Belle”, a historic World
War II C-47 aircraft that was flown during the Normandy D-Day invasion in 1944.
She will be accompanied by members of the USSOCOM Para-Commandos and the U.S.
Special Operations Command’s premier parachute demonstration team, as well as
the Round Canopy Parachute Team, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the
history of Allied Airborne Forces.
Proceeds from
Duffy’s skydiving challenge will benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation, an
organization founded by actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise in 2011 to support
active military, veterans, first responders and their families. The
foundation’s current relief efforts are focused on aiding first responders and
military personnel working on the ground in Floridian communities impacted by
the back-to-back hurricanes.
Gary Sinise and
his Lt. Dan Band, which has performed over 570 concerts worldwide to uplift
military communities, will also be on hand to perform during the embarkation
day festivities.
Those wishing to
donate, and help Duffy and Carnival reach their new target of $75,000 for the Gary Sinise Foundation can click
here.
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