Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy completed a tandem skydive over Tampa Bay on October 19 to aid hurricane relief efforts and raise funds for the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Duffy jumped from “Tico Belle, a World War II C-47 aircraft flown in the Normandy D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.
Joining her were the Round Canopy Parachute Team and the parachute demonstration team of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Para-Commandos, two organizations committed to honoring the nation’s military forces.
The cruise line executive’s skydive coincided with the sailing date of Carnival’s first Special Forces Legacy Initiatives (SFLI) cruise. This voyage commemorates the achievements of the courageous Green Beret Army during the Korean War.
The special five-day sailing to The Bahamas was commissioned for special forces alumni, Gold Star Families, and their other loved ones.
Fundraiser Exceeds $50,000 Target
But Duffy’s leap of faith and the SLFI cruise weren’t the only highlights of the day. Carnival announced that it not only met but exceeded its original $50,000 target by $35,000, raising $85,000.
The amount will go towards the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports injured veterans, first responders, and their families, including those impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Carnival Cruise Line’s initiative inspired the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation’s donation-matching program. The funds raised will be awarded to the Wounded Warrior Project, another group serving injured veterans.
Though Duffy found the skydive exhilarating, she said that rallying support for the local community was the bigger win.
“Jumping from a plane was a rush, but the real thrill is supporting a meaningful cause in one of our important homeport communities,” she remarked. “I thought my first-ever skydive would be a good fundraising opportunity, and I’m so grateful to everyone who donated to this effort.”
In addition to Carnival’s campaign, Norwegian Cruise Line has stepped up, pledging $80,000 to support hurricane relief efforts.
