Communities impacted by Irma and Maria
Together with All Hearts and Hands – Smart Response, the company—including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises—raised more than $2.5m to deliver early relief response and rebuild safe, resilient schools in the Caribbean communities impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria. A portion of the proceeds was used to build the primary school in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
On Friday, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings officials attended the grand opening celebration of the kindergarten through sixth grade school. Students will start there on Oct. 31.
'We are incredibly proud to celebrate the opening of this first school in partnership with All Hearts and Hands – Smart Response, which is a direct outcome of our Hope Starts Here hurricane relief campaign,' NCLH president and CEO Frank Del Rio said. 'We are immensely grateful for all those who have contributed to the construction of the Ivan Dawson Primary School and who have helped restore hope to families in the community.'
Support for Key West, St. Thomas and St. Maarten as well
The Hope Starts Here hurricane relief program launched in late September 2017, when the company partnered with relief organization All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response to help provide immediate relief in Key West and reconstruct schools and critical infrastructure in affected islands in the Caribbean including St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Tortola.
Largest fundraiser in NCLH history
This has been the largest fundraising campaign in the company’s history. Within 90 days of the launch, Hope Starts Here reached its goal of raising $2.5m to assist All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response. The program has received more than $1.25m in donations from the company’s team members, passengers, travel partners and business partners, which NCLH has matched.
As earlier reported, Norwegian Getaway is scheduled to resume regular Tortola calls Oct. 18.
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