Port Canaveral Hosts United Way Campaign Kickoff

By  //  September 14, 2012

PHILANTHROPY

(VIDEO: )

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – “There’s no place like our Homeport” was the theme for the 2012 United Way Campaign kickoff party during the Grand Opening of Carnival Cruise Lines Terminal 6 at Port Canaveral this evening.

Gerry Cahill
Jim Berra

Gerry Cahill, President and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, widely recognized as one of the most influential executives in the cruise industry, made his first Central Florida appearance yesterday at the Port and spoke highly of Port Canaveral and the fact that Carnival actually has five ships that use Port Canaveral throughout the year.

Due to a death in Cahill’s family, Jim Berra, Carnival’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, attended tonight’s gala in his place and made very positive remarks about Port Canaveral’s long standing relationship with Carnival Cruise Lines.

The 90,000 square foot, $65 million terminal has been home to its first ship since August 13 – the Carnival Ecstasy. The new Terminal 6 is expected to be used by 800,000 passengers over the next year.

Berra welcomed the guests and thanked the Port for their support in the inauguration of Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 6.

The 90,000 square foot, $65 million terminal has been home to its first ship since August 13 – the Carnival Ecstasy. The new Terminal 6 is expected to be used by 800,000 passengers over the next year.

Rob Rains, President of the United Way of Brevard was thrilled to have the United Way invited to benefit from the event and thanked Carnival Cruise Lines for their donation of $10,000 to the United Way of Brevard.

Rob Rains
Rob Rains
Adrian Laffitte

“Our goal is to raise $6.3 million for our Brevard community this year,” said Rains. “With this great kickoff, we are well on our way.”

Adrian Laffitte, the chairman for the 2012 United Way of Brevard Campaign was very happy with the evening.

“We have met our first goal of $1.2 million and so we are optimistic for the future,” said Laffitte.

Brevard Leaders In Attendance

Bonnie King, Marketing Director of the Brevard County Tourism Development Council was very pleased with the event.

Bruce Deardoff

“This will have a great economic impact on Brevard and we are so happy to be a part of it,” said King.  “This is very positive for Brevard.”

Port Commissioner Bruce Deardoff spoke on behalf of the Port and in his remarks he espoused the tremendous economic impact that Carnival Cruise Lines has for Brevard County.

Former Cocoa Beach Mayor and Chairman of the Brevard County Historical Commission, Joe Morgan, explained how a time capsule will be buried at the Cruise Terminal 6 during this, the kickoff to the 2012 United Way Campaign.

There’s No Place Like Our Home Port Theme

Along with an estimated 400 plus guests, were characters from the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy (played by Alyssa Daniels), Tin Man (played by Ryan Gigliotti), Scarecrow (played by Hunter Smith) and the Cowardly Lion (played by Joel Newton) – all from Wise Guys Entertainment, entertained and interacted with the thrilled guests.