PR Newswire
MIAMI, May 5, 2014
MIAMI, May 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A shared passion to promote literacy in Florida and across the nation was the inspiration behind a festive Miami Port event aboard the Carnival Breeze. The Literacy at Sea Celebration was hosted by the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (CICF) to support the work of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. The national nonprofit, which is focused on providing young children and their low-literate parents the opportunity to learn together, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a series of special events.
Nearly 200 guests enjoyed the Sunday brunch including business and education leaders, as well as families and students. The reception featured one of the Barbara Bush Foundation's strongest advocates - Jeb Bush, Jr.- and best-selling authors, including humorist and Miami native Dave Barry, as well as "100 Cupboards" Trilogy writer N.D. Wilson.
In addition to generously hosting the Literacy at Sea event, CICF is donating $25,000 to the Barbara Bush Foundation.
"CICF is a strong supporter of education and we are honored to support the Barbara Bush Foundation in recognition of the excellent work it does with families across the nation," said CICF Executive Director Mike McGarry. "We are proud to support such a deserving organization and we congratulate the Barbara Bush Foundation on its 25th anniversary."
The Barbara Bush Foundation empowers America's children and their parents, giving them the opportunity to learn fundamental literacy skills and achieve a better life together. Through a youth mentoring program, Barbara Bush Scholarships and family literacy grants the Foundation supports:
"We are grateful to the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation for believing, like we do, that all precious children deserve an equal opportunity to achieve," said Liza McFadden, president of the Barbara Bush Foundation. "We also recognize that millions of parents in America face a gap in education, lacking the basic reading and writing skills they need to help their children in school. That is why we support reading mentoring efforts and family literacy programs to provide the most basic of educational skills for both child and parent: the ability to read and write."
For more information about our family literacy efforts and upcoming Barbra Bush Foundation 25th anniversary events, please visit our website at BarbaraBush.org.
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is the nation's leading advocate for family literacy. Founded by former First Lady Barbara Bush, we believe that family literacy is key to solving today's most critical challenges: social and economic mobility, quality of life, and global competitiveness. With support of individuals and corporate sponsors, we provide educational opportunities for young children and their parents, helping them achieve the literacy skills needed to pursue a brighter future. BarbaraBush.org.
The nonprofit Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (CICF), founded in 1998, focuses its efforts on programs designed to strengthen and improve the quality of life in communities served by members of the Cruise Lines International Association. CICF supports civic and community development, educational assistance and training programs, and environmental preservation initiatives. CICF supporters include: AIDA Cruises, AMA Waterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Pearl Seas Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Tauck River Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, and Windstar Cruises.
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SOURCE Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation; Barbara Bush Foundation