Carnival Cruise Line has raised more than $16 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital over the past eight years. A record amount was raised on a recent two week long sailing on one of their cruise ships.
Carnival Splendor Cruise Director Lee Mason made a vow to the guests onboard the two week sailing that if the passengers and crew raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude, he would shave his head. They ended up raising a record $40,000 for the hospital’s life-saving research and education programs.
The record donation on Carnival Splendor was raised through the ultra-popular Groove for St. Jude dance activity which takes place each cruise ship throughout the cruise line’s fleet. A man of his word, Lee Mason had his locks cut in front of a raucous crowd on the Lido Deck.
Carnival Cruise Line’s partnership with St. Jude began in 2010 and the cruise line has raised not only funds but also awareness of the hospital’s goal to eradicate childhood cancer.
In addition to fun activities like the Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea where kids can build their own stuffed animal with optional accessories with proceeds benefiting the hospital, Carnival supports the hospital through the sale of sweets on board, including Brownie Buoy ice cream flavor hand-picked by the kids of St. Jude and sold at Carnival Vista’s Cherry on Top shop.
Artwork from patients is also permanently displayed on Carnival Horizon’s Dreamscape LED atrium sculpture that debuted during the ship’s naming ceremony honoring St. Jude earlier this year.
I’m proud to say that a Cruise Coin was offered as part of the auction on board this cruise and the winning bid was $1,000.