Cruise Ship Staff Members Raise Funds for Katrina Victims
Release Date: February 23, 2006
Release Number: 1603-367
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- On top of working grueling hours to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina, staff members aboard two Carnival Cruise Lines ships housing displaced first responders and their families held a fundraiser Wednesday night to benefit the Bishop Perry Middle School, a school attended by many of the first responders' children.
"This donation is a wonderful surprise," said Father David Theroux, principal of Bishop Perry Middle School. "We are trying to provide a safe haven for our students in a very difficult time. We're a tuition-free school so every donation helps."
"We just wanted a chance to give back to the victims of this terrible disaster," said Anoushka Jackson of England, a purser aboard the Ecstasy and an organizer of the fundraiser.
Heidi Unter, vice president of research & development at the New Orleans Police Foundation (NOPF), another partner in the recovery effort, added, "The NOPF thanks Carnival Cruise Lines and their employees for all of their hard work over the last few months to house and feed the city's first responders. We commend them for going above and beyond their duties and holding this fundraiser. We greatly appreciate their commitment to helping New Orleans police and firefighters."
The Carnival Cruise ships Ecstasy and Sensation have provided housing for thousands of New Orleans-area residents including many police officers, firefighters, and city workers whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Within days of Katrina's landfall, the cruise ships came to the rescue of the city of New Orleans providing safe, secure and immediate housing for the first responders who kept the city functioning. Carnival's staff includes employees from all over the world representing 35 different nations.
"Cruise ships provided over two million meals, plus housing for over 8,000 hurricane victims, first responders, and representatives from eighteen federal and state agencies," said Gil Jamieson, FEMA's deputy director for Gulf Coast recovery. "Carnival Cruise Lines, Captain Angelo Los, and the staff of both the Ecstasy and the Sensation have been tremendous partners with FEMA throughout this recovery process."
"Our organization has a long-held culture of caring and giving. The actions of our employees on the Ecstasy and Sensation reflect that," said Tim Gallagher, spokesperson for Carnival. "We are proud of our people, not only for their thoughtfulness in conducting the fundraising event, but for their tremendous efforts in general throughout the period these ships have been serving as housing in New Orleans."
The Bishop Perry Middle School is located at 1941 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 and may be contacted at 504-943-3734. For video from the event, please contact Adam Vogt at 202-321-7330.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 24-Feb-2006 08:39:59