After achieving a goal of raising $3 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital over a three-year period with their Care to Play: Carnival for St. Jude Kids campaign, Carnival Cruise Lines expanded upon its partnership by becoming the Official Celebration Partner at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and has committed to a goal of raising an additional $5 million over the next four years.
The company will also help patients celebrate special moments at the hospital, including birthdays which will include a new gift from Carnival specially created for St. Jude kids, complementing traditional birthday festivities. A Carnival-sponsored “Day of Play” is also planned at the hospital this fall with music, food, dancing, giveaways and more.
A variety of new fundraising activities, both on board and ashore, are planned as part of Carnival’s ongoing support to St. Jude in the fight against pediatric cancer. These activities include a special bingo game with a portion of each bingo card benefiting St. Jude, as well as a water slide activity with a $1 donation for each person who zips down the line’s signature water slides during a designated time on board. And when guests purchase a designated bakery item from the line’s on-board shops or prior to their cruise on carnival.com, Carnival will donate a portion of each item sold to St. Jude.
These activities complement the fundraisers that kicked off the original Care to Play campaign in 2010 that includes a dance activity called “Groove for St. Jude” and the Beary Cuddly Workshop where kids create their own St. Jude-themed bear complete with scrubs, surgical mask and a lab coat. Carnival’s travel agent partners also contribute to St. Jude, with agents donating $10 each when participating in the line’s ship familiarization tours and luncheons.
Carnival has also revamped the St. Jude portal within its web site (www.carnival.com/stjude) which includes information on the expanded partnership and an updated chart reflecting progress toward the new $5 million fundraising goal.
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