Carnival sets additional $10m goal to support St. Jude

The announcement was made by Carnival president Christine Duffy at the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, during the cruise line’s third annual Day of Play. This year that featured a variety of Dr. Seuss-themed activities for patients and their families.

At the event, Carnival officials presented the hospital with an over-sized check for $5m, representing the funds raised for St. Jude over the past two years—two years ahead of schedule. Carnival has raised $8m in total for the hospital since the start of the partnership in 2010.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Unlike any other hospital, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from individual contributions. Thanks to donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.

Modeled after Carnival's Seuss at Sea program, the 'Dr. Seuss On The Loose' Day of Play transformed a pavilion at the hospital into a Dr. Seuss-themed play area. Highlights included the Seuss-a-Palooza Parade and Story Time featuring a spirited reading of 'The Cat in the Hat,' along with activities like face painting, bean bag toss, a photo booth, arts and crafts, dancing and more.

There was also a replica of a Dr. Seuss Bookville family reading venue modeled after a similar facility aboard Carnival Freedom and Carnival Vista, the latter under construction and set to debut in Europe May 1.