In a display of support for military and first responders involved in hurricane relief efforts, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy completed a tandem skydive over Tampa Bay, concluding a successful fundraising campaign that garnered US$85,000+ for the Gary Sinise Foundation. The funds were raised to assist those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The skydive also coincided with the launch of the Special Forces Legacy Initiatives (SFLI) cruise aboard Carnival Paradise. In addition, the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation has committed to matching donations to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Duffy's tandem jump took place as Carnival Paradise set sail from the Port of Tampa Bay. The skydive, part of the celebration surrounding the SFLI cruise, was conducted with the Round Canopy Parachute Team, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the history of Allied Airborne Forces, and the USSOCOM Para-Commandos, the U.S. Special Operations Command’s elite aerial parachute demonstration team. The jump was made from the “Tico Belle,” a C-47 aircraft that participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy during World War II.
The event followed a day of activities at the Port of Tampa Bay, including a special performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. The SFLI cruise, a chartered voyage aboard Carnival Paradise, brings together special forces veterans, their families, Gold Star families, and friends for a 5-day cruise to The Bahamas, fostering camaraderie among Green Berets who have served from the Korean War era to the present.