Holland America Line hosted a “Home from the Sea” fundraiser luncheon for the Catholic Seafarers’ Center aboard ms Westerdam Saturday, June 1, 2013, at the Port of Seattle. The event was attended by the Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle, along with Holland America Line President and CEO Stein Kruse and Father Tony Haycock.
Before the luncheon, attendees gathered for an award ceremony where Catholic Seafarers’ Center representatives honored several community leaders. In addition, a raffle for a free Holland America Line cruise was held to raise funds for the center. After lunch, guests were invited to tour the ship.
“We’re proud to support the Catholic Seafarers’ Center and thank them for all they do for our crew members while in Seattle,” said Kruse. “The Catholic Seafarers’ Center is a place that mariners of all nations and faiths can find support and services, and it is an important resource for those who work at sea.”
“We are grateful to Holland America Line for providing such critical aid to our organization and hosting us on board for this marvelous lunch,” said Sartain. “Thanks to the funds collected today, our staff will be able to provide much-needed resources to those visiting our center.”
The Catholic Seafarers’ Center is a social-service agency in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Its mission is to meet the spiritual and practical needs of seafarers and maritime
workers visiting and living in Seattle. The center provides a number of services to workers coming to the city, including shipping goods on their behalf, arranging transportation and coordinating recreational activities. For more information, visit www.catholicseafarercenter.org.
Each year, Holland America Line hosts more than 25 shipboard charity luncheons for nearly 5,000 guests in its homeport cities. In addition, Holland America Line and its corporate foundation’s charitable-giving programs provide cash sponsorships, in-kind donations, free- and reduced-fare cruise donations for nonprofit fundraising events, donations of usable shipboard items around the world, employee volunteerism and other philanthropic activities.
