Before students went on winter break, they were treated to a special visit at Carnival. Marc Buoniconti inspired students and mentors with his life story and his work with The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis & The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. He emphasized to our students to make right decisions, have a positive outlook on life and to help others.
On November 16, students and mentors arrived at Carnival’s headquarters for their November visit, where Breakthrough Miami hosted an academic counseling session for freshmen and sophomores. Junior and senior girls were also treated to a beauty tutorial full of professional styling tips from Bloomingdale’s best.
Students enjoyed a festive visit to Carnival’s headquarters on October 26. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors participated in academic enrichment sessions provided by Breakthrough Miami. Additionally, some students were able to hear from program alumnus Francia Alexander as she spoke about her experience in the program, mentorship, college, and pursuing post-graduate degree.
The first visit of the 2017-2018 Carnival Scholarship & Mentoring Program was Sept. 29, 2017, and it was full of “hellos.” Returning students caught up with their mentor after a summer apart. Freshmen students met their new mentor and got to break the ice with a introductory session hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami President Gale Nelson.
For the Humane Society’s Walk for Animals, the F.U.N. Team assisted with event coordination and running the raffle. The Walk for Animals is an annual event benefiting the Humane Society of Greater Miami. Every dollar raised from the walk goes toward sheltering more than 400 homeless cats and dogs in the Humane Society’s care at the shelter and through the foster care program.
The F.U.N. Team helped with set-up/breakdown, helping riders stay hydrated, cheering and more at the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. Launched in 2010 as the signature initiative of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, the DCC is a way for the South Florida community to be cancer fighters. Participant-raised funds go to innovative cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
For our April Carnival Scholarship and Mentoring Program visit, students and mentors learned more about Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald. Mr. Donald spoke about growing up in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward and his journey to becoming one of the most powerful African American men in the world. He left our students with a message that was repeated every day to him in high school: “Prepare yourselves. You’re going to run the world.”
During our March Carnival Scholarship and Mentoring Program visit, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president of Florida Memorial University, visited our students and mentors. She spoke about her journey from a small-town West Virginian girl with big dreams to her current role as a university president, and the impact of mentorship.
Special Olympics Maryland was able to make the 2017 Polar Bear Plunge, their largest fundraising event, a huge success, raising more than 2.5 million dollars in this single event. Carnival was present at the Polar Bear Plunge with Carnival Cruise Line’s Kathy Donnelly and travel agents forming Team Carnival during the corporate plunge. Carnival Corporation Regional Vice President Kirk Neal participated in the fun by plunging more than 24 times in 24 hours in the icy cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay!
Miami Heat Vice President of Player Programs and Development, and former center for the team, was snapped with Carnival F.U.N. Team member Antoinette during Zo’s Family Health and Wellness Groove.
