FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - On Saturday, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), Holland America Line, and Broward County's Port Everglades came together to spread holiday cheer for about 40 children from the nonprofit Kids in Distress (KID). The Holiday Gift Project took place onboard Holland America's Nieuw Statendam at Port Everglades.
“We are beyond grateful for the efforts of so many that have made it possible to relaunch the Holiday Gift Project, which has brought presents and cheer to tens of thousands of underprivileged children over its 22 previous years and will benefit 23 destinations this year,” said Michele M. Paige, FCCA CEO. “This would not be possible without our partnership with Diamonds International, which helped restart the Foundation itself, and Port Everglades, which came in as a partner sponsor for the FCCA Foundation Fundraising Dinner. They have shown the same commitment to our mission of building a foundation for children to support them in the present and future.”
Children ages 3 to 16 were treated to a three-course lunch, arts-and-crafts, and a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The children also received gifts donated by the port and FCCA, along with stuffed animals of Holland America Line's mascot, Lewie the Lion. The cruise line wrapped the event by presenting a $5,000 donation to Kids in Distress.
“We are pleased to recognize the positive impact of organizations on the communities we visit,” said Henk Draper, captain of the Holland America Line ship Nieuw Statendam. “We thank Kids in Distress for their incredible work in helping children in need in greater Fort Lauderdale and it was our pleasure to welcome them on board the ship.”
“Port Everglades and Holland America Line share a long history with the cruise line sailing from the port for nearly 90 years, and it was wonderful to support them and our friends at FCCA,” said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. “The smiles on the children's faces made it all worth it.”
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line has been exploring the world for 150+ years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to the destinations. Offering an ideal perfectly-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for more than 75 years - longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests enjoy the best entertainment at sea, and dining venues featuring exclusive dishes by world-famous chefs. A new global fresh fish program brings more than 80 types of fresh fish on board, sourced and served locally in regions around the world.
About Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)
Created in 1972, FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that represents the mutual interests of the cruise industry and destinations' private and public sectors. By building bilateral relationships with cruise tourism stakeholders and providing them a forum to work with executives from its Member Lines, FCCA fosters bilateral success for all parties. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
About Port Everglades
As one of Florida's leading economic generators, Broward County's Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations. Consistently ranked among the top three busiest cruise homeports in the world, Port Everglades is also one of the nation's leading container ports and South Florida's main seaport for receiving energy products including gasoline, jet fuel and alternative fuels. As a major economic driver, Port Everglades contributes $26.5 billion annually. More than 192,000 Florida jobs are impacted by the port, including nearly 11,000 people who work for companies that provide direct services to Port Everglades. For more information on Port Everglades, visit PortEverglades.net or email PortEverglades@broward.org.
Media contacts:
Holland America Line Public Relations
Carl Hensley, Public Relations Specialist
chensley@hollandamerica.com
619-916-6986
Port Everglades
Joy Oglesby, Public Information Officer
joyoglesby@broward.org
954-468-0195