Carnival raises $33M for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, targets $50M by 2030

The naming ceremony for Carnival Jubilee marked a philanthropic milestone for Carnival Cruise Line. After Carnival met its 2024 target of $33 million early in the year, the cruise line set its sights on a $50 million fundraising goal by 2030.

The proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Carnival ensured that the new fundraising goal was off to a great start by donating $50,000. The cruise line president, Christine Duffy, presented the check to Richard C. Shadyac Jr., who heads the organization in charge of fundraising and generating awareness for St. Jude.

In her speech, Duffy expressed appreciation for Carnival’s crew and guests. “Thanks to our crew and guests’ continued generosity, we’re able to raise our fundraising goal and extend that impact. As the cruise line that serves more children and families than any other, we are proud to have a long-standing partnership with St. Jude,” she said.

The gesture honored special guest and Carnival Jubilee’s godmother, Gwen Stefani, along with her husband, Blake Shelton, are known for supporting different charities for children.

Carnival and St. Jude: Partners for over a decade

St. Jude has been Carnival’s beneficiary or “Official Celebration Partner” since 2010. Throughout the years, the cruise line has hosted several events and fundraising activities to support it. This includes the Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea and the Groove for St. Jude dance party, held during cruises. 

During the event, the cruise line also unveiled artwork inspired and designed by a St. Jude Hospital patient named Ty. More pieces from other artist-patients can be seen on Carnival ships, such as Carnival Panorama, Carnival Horizon, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Celebration.

As of January 2023, the cruise line raised over $3.5 million for the hospital, surpassing its $2.8 million donation in 2018.