The devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in Abaco and Grand Bahama islands is beyond belief.
Tourism is a crucial part of the Bahamas economy, and the tourist industry is donating millions of dollars, plus cruise ship lines are delivering life-saving hurricane relief supplies and evacuating victims. One cruise line even is matching donations dollar-for-dollar.
Here’s some of what the tourism industry is doing to help:
How you can help Hurricane Dorian victims
Charities approved by the Govt. of the Bahamas
Carnival Corporation
Carnival’s philanthropic arm, Carnival Foundation, its nine global cruise line brands together with the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation have pledged to donate $2 million in funding and in-kind support for relief efforts in The Bahamas.
Carnival also is collecting and delivering food and supplies donated in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties for the people of The Bahamas, through a partnership with Tropical Shipping and The Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Carnival Foundation and the company’s nine cruise line brands – Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK) – are pledging a total of $1 million in monetary and in-kind donations in support of immediate relief and recovery efforts in The Bahamas.
Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine are matching the corporation’s commitment with a $1 million donation from the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation.
A portion of the combined pledge is supporting efforts being managed by Direct Relief, an international humanitarian organization that provides critical medications and supplies during emergency situations.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Through its brands including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, NCLH has relaunched Hope Starts Here, the company’s hurricane relief campaign in partnership with All Hands and Hearts, and pledged a minimum commitment of $1 million dollars toward immediate short-term relief for those affected by Hurricane Dorian.
It has also vowed to match donations dollar-for-dollar to assist with rebuilding efforts across the Bahamas, including debris cleanup and removal, and the delivery of supplies and temporary shelters.
NCLH is also coordinating with local Bahamian authorities to bring needed provisions to the affected areas, “as quickly and as humanly possible.”
Norwegian Breakaway delivered hurricane relief supplies donated by NCLH and its employees, in addition to items collected by the City of Miami, Baptist Health South Florida, the 305 Gives Back foundation, and other Miami-based organizations, to be delivered to Nassau, Great Harbor Cay, the company’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
Atlantis, Paradise Island and Brookfield Asset Management
The hotel group is pledging $3 million pledge to benefit Hurricane Dorian relief efforts. That is in addition to the grass roots efforts that started prior to and immediately after the storm, via Atlantis’ partnership with chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen team, staging and assembling much needed meals in Atlantis’ kitchens.
Brookfield is setting up a donation fund and will match contributions made by its employees worldwide. This fund will benefit Atlantis’ partner chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization.
Meals continue to be delivered to Abaco and Grand Bahama and volunteers from Atlantis’ staff continue to assist in assembly and delivery. These efforts will continue as long as they are needed.
Atlantis has established a Go Fund Me site with 100% of the proceeds going to the Bahamas Red Cross. The goal is to reach $1 million.
“All of us here at Atlantis are deeply saddened by the devastation of our sister islands Abaco and Grand Bahama. We are thankful that Hurricane Dorian did not directly impact Nassau and Paradise Island and we are in a position to help our fellow Bahamians” said Audrey Oswell, President and Managing Director, Atlantis, Paradise Island. “Now our focus is on how we can contribute to the rebuilding of lives and communities in the affected areas,” Oswell continued.
Atlantis also is assisting with donation sites at Brookfield Place in New York and Atlantis’ offices in Plantation, Florida, to collect much needed supplies which will be delivered to relief organizations.
Atlantis has coordinated the shipment of medical supplies donated by Baptist Health, and has established an employee assistance fund to aid in the relocation or renovation expenses for the families of Atlantis team members.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Brands include Azamara, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.
The company has committed $1 million to disaster relief for Hurricane Dorian, with an additional $100,000 to be donated by ITM Group, its partner in the Holistica joint venture that is developing the Grand Lucayan resort in Freeport, while also pledging to match donations by guests and employees to PADF and use its ships to deliver supplies such as generators, water, cleaning supplies, clean sheets and towels.
“The Bahamas has always been more than a destination for Royal Caribbean and our guests,” said the line in the announcement. “For more than half a century, we’ve made many friends and many memories.
Royal Caribbean employs more than 500 Bahamians who work at Perfect Day at CocoCay and the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
The Walt Disney Company
Led by Disney Cruise Line, the company has made a commitment of more than $1 million to help relief and recovery efforts in The Bahamas, including, a $1 million donation to non-profit relief agencies undertaking recovery and rebuilding efforts, as well as the provision of supplies such as food staples and basic construction materials to those in impacted areas.
Additionally, Disney employees with immediate needs in The Bahamas will have access to a range of resources.
Disney employs more than 60 Bahamanians from Abaco and Grand Bahama at Disney Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in The Bahamas.
“We stand with the Bahamian people,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line. “As the needs in these communities are assessed, we are prepared to aid the relief and recovery efforts through funding, the provision of supplies and by providing support to our Bahamian Crew Members.”
MSC Group
The parent company of MSC Cruises has pledged support from across all its businesses for Hurricane Dorian relief in The Bahamas.
MSC is also a shipping company, and addition to providing and delivering goods of primary necessity, MSC Group’s efforts will initially focus on semi-permanent prefabricated modular housing for the population as well as making available MSC geared ships for cargo relief service from the U.S to The Bahamas.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
BPCL is accepting donations online through its partner, Mission Resolve, as well as donated supplies at its Riviera Beach warehouse.
Grand Celebration, loaded with food, water and other supplies, as well as first responders and volunteers, is delivering them to the Bahamas and evacuating people.
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