MIAMI (January 21, 2013) – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) has made a donation of $300,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Miami, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through mentorship opportunities.
The donation – one of the largest local gifts to BBBS of Greater Miami – is the result of sponsorship proceeds from a book entitled An Ocean of Innovation, A Passion for Giving Back that commemorates the 25 years since Carnival Corporation & plc’s initial public offering and highlights the community service initiatives of the company’s 10 global brands.
Generated entirely by book sponsorship contributions from Carnival’s vendors and business partners, the $300,000 donation will enable BBBS of Greater Miami to expand its ongoing mentoring initiatives for local school-age children and help fund the organization’s various community-based scholarship programs. The $300,000 donation follows an additional $150,000 donation from Carnival Corporation & plc that enables BBBS of Greater Miami to provide 100 new matches to local children who are on a waitlist to participate for the organization’s mentoring program.
The donation also continues Carnival’s longstanding partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami which is highlighted by Carnival’s own innovative scholarship and mentoring program that pairs 90 Miami-Dade high school students with a member of the company’s management team to provide a first-hand look at the business world. Carnival also provides 15 four-year scholarships each year to graduating seniors and to date has purchased 150 scholarships valued at $1.8 million through the Florida Pre-Paid Scholarship Program.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our valued partners that will allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to continue their life-changing mentoring opportunities and provide our community’s children with a platform for future success,” said Howard Frank, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.
“Carnival Corporation & plc has been a valued partner of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami for more than two decades and through their continued generosity and the tremendous support of the sponsors of this book, we’re able to truly make a difference in the lives of some very special children,” said Lydia Muniz, BBBS of Greater Miami President and CEO.
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise company in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK).
Together, these brands operate 100 ships totaling 203,000 lower berths with nine new ships scheduled to be delivered between March 2013 and March 2016. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
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