Charities to Benefit from QM2

Cunard will sponsor charitable benefits in Southampton, England, and Fort Lauderdale in celebration of the January 12 Maiden Voyage ofQueen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner ever built. Among the beneficiaries are the U.K.-based Lord's Taverners and Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony and Winterfest, based in South Florida. With much anticipation, the round of charitable events will kick off Friday, January 9, with a gala night in Southampton for The Lord's Taverners, one of the United Kingdom's best-known charities with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburghas their patron. Theiraim is to raise money for underprivileged children andprovide opportunities for young people, able-bodied or with disabilities, under the age of 25 to participate in sports and recreation.Overthe last 50 years they have given away£30 millionto schools, sports clubs and special-needs organizations. Three weeks later,a charity gala held Friday, January 30, to herald the ship's U.S. arrival in Port Everglades will benefit Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony and Winterfest. The latter supports various charities throughout the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. The festivitieswill include Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the New World Symphony and a performance of the Miami City Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella, followed by dinner. "We are delighted to give back to the communitieswhere we live and work," said Pamela Conover, Cunard's president and COO. "It isfitting to celebrate the launch of the world's most extraordinary new liner byhonouring such extraordinary charity organisations." An additional fundraising event is beingplanned to mark the April arrival ofQueen Mary 2in New York City, theliner's other U.S. homeport.