Nassau Cruise Port CEO leads fundraising for Caribbean scholarships

ACMF is a US nonprofit organization whose mission is to 'alleviate poverty and transform lives in the Caribbean through maritime education and community development.' Past Anchor Awards honorees include Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; Rick Sasso, executive chairman, MSC Cruises USA; Rick Murrell, chairman, Tropical Shipping; and Win Thurber, chairman, president & CEO, Norton Lilly International.

Nov. 5 gala in Manhattan

The gala is set for Nov. 5 at the historic New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. The fundraising goal is to raise $250,000 to support the education of the next-generation of Caribbean maritime professionals. ACMF provides full-tuition scholarships and grants to Caribbean nationals who plan to work in the industry and qualify to attend any one of these three academic partners — the Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica, University of Trinidad and Tobago and the LJM Maritime Academy in the Bahamas.

New Nassau Cruise Port scholarships

'As a part of our support of the event, two Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. scholarships will be established and awarded to Caribbean maritime students this year,' Maura said. 'It is incumbent upon us as regional maritime professionals to help ensure that our best and brightest young minds have access and opportunities in such a vital industry.'

ACMF President Geneive Brown Metzger called Maura a 'champion in bringing people together' who 'believes strongly in supporting our communities, and that’s what the ACMF is all about — reducing poverty and improving lives through education and advancement. Events like these and those who support them are critical in moving our nations, and our region, forward.'

ACMF has been shortlisted for the Diversity & Inclusion Award in the 2021 Seatrade Cruise Awards and was a finalist for the Talent Development Award in the 2020 Seatrade Cruise Awards.