From left: Erin Feller, American Cancer Society; Lisa Meindl, American Cancer Society; Dr. John Chevillet, American Cancer Society Research Grantee; David Rogers, American Cancer Society; Mary Beth Wressell, vice president of marketing communications for Holland America Line; Jonathan Hensley, Regence BlueShield of Washington; Chuck DeGooyer, American Cancer Society; Pamela Baade, manager of corporate giving for Holland America Line, and Mark Wright, KING 5 Morning News.

This past weekend we hosted a celebratory luncheon aboard Westerdam at the Port of Seattle in honor of the American Cancer Society’s 100th birthday. The event was held with the Puget Sound chapter of the organization.

“We were honored to host this milestone luncheon for the American Cancer Society,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “Having entered into a more comprehensive partnership with the American Cancer Society this year, we’re proud to support an organization that touches so many lives around the world.”

Kruse is a member of the American Cancer Society’s “CEOs Against Cancer” program, and we raise funds through our “On Deck for a Cause” shipboard giving program that benefits six international cancer organizations, including the American Cancer Society.

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Holland America Line has been a proud sponsor of the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus since 2003. On Saturday May 11, the SMC had their annual black tie auction and dinner, and this year’s theme was “Springtime in Paris.”

The organization raises funds for local LGBT community programs, youth “It Gets Better” outreach project and a youth scholarship fund. Among those in attendance from Holland America Line were Christy Oakland, senior director reservations; Greg Crick, senior manager guest relations; Dee Keegan-Grant, executive assistant to Stein Kruse; Leon Gessula, senior director revenue management and myself. Company associates in attendance were Jeff Cacy, managing director airline marketing Boeing Corporation and Nancy Hollenbeck, co-owner Hollenbeck Productions. It was a smashing success and with the help of a 10-day Holland America Line cruise in the auction line-up, the evening’s goal fund target was raised!

From left: Jeff Cacy, Nancy Hollenbeck and myself.

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Holland America Line Vice President of Guest Programs Tim Murphy, left, and Administrative Assistant Sherri Warner, center, with representatives from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska: from left, Executive Director Dianna Finnerty, Board President Lindsay Sovde and Board Member Corey Shamley.

Congrats to our Holland America Line employee volunteers who recently received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska.

Holland America Line employees sponsored and served evening meals at the Seattle Ronald McDonald House during 2012, donating more than 200 hours of service time. Volunteers also hosted game and craft activities for the children. Members of Holland America Line’s Guest Programs Department have volunteered to sponsor and serve meals again in 2013

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 to recognize valuable contributions volunteers are making in their communities and to encourage more people to serve. The council created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who have inspired others to engage in volunteer service.

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On Earth Day, employees from Holland America Line, Seabourn and other Seattle-based cruise lines cleaned up Golden Gardens Park off the city’s beach. The event was hosted by Cruise Line International Association as part of their “Cruise Forward” initiative, in partnership with the volunteer organizers from Seattle Works, representatives from the Port of Seattle and staff from Seattle Parks and Recreation. In addition to Holland America Line and Seabourn, volunteers were drawn from locally based Windstar Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises.

Despite the hard work, everyone had a lot of fun! Read more about the event from our partners at CLIA by clicking here, and enjoy some photos from the day.

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In recognition of Earth Day, Holland America Line is announcing the renewal of its partnership with Marine Conservation Institute. The partnership with the Washington State–based organization began in 2010 with the “Our Marvelous Oceans” program, and will continue with the signing of a new three-year agreement that runs through 2016.

The goal of “Our Marvelous Oceans” is to foster greater understanding of the marine environment through guest and staff education and commitment to sustainably sourced seafood on shipboard menus. The partnership also includes a new “Saving the Ocean’s Gems” program to be rolled out in fall 2013 that promotes Marine Protected Areas — parts of the ocean set aside to protect endangered species, special habitats and/or cultural heritage sites — especially along the ships’ itineraries.

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On Jan. 26, at Port of San Diego in California, HAL hosted a fundraiser luncheon aboard Zaandam for Vista Hill Foundation, one of the company’s community partners. Following the luncheon in the ship’s main dining room, guests were invited to tour the ship. Vista Hill is a nonprofit organization that focuses on mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disabilities for people of all ages. Vista Hill programs currently provide services to nearly 6,000 families annually at numerous sites throughout San Diego County.

Their major programs include the Stein Education Center, serving children and adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges; the ParentCare Family Recovery Center, assisting mothers with substance abuse problems and their children; and the Learning Assistance Center, providing school-based mental health treatment to students in numerous north inland area school districts. Vista Hill’s Community Services division provides a variety of early intervention services to troubled youth and families throughout San Diego, many of which are free of charge to participants.

From left: Angela Rowe, Michael Emerson and Rachel Peniche.

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In honor of World Cancer Day, today Holland America Line announced “On Deck for a Cause,” a new shipboard giving program that will benefit six international cancer organizations located in the United States, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom.

On Deck for a Cause invites our guests to participate in a noncompetitive 5k fundraising walk on every sailing aboard each of our 15 ships, with proceeds to be distributed among the American Cancer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Research UK, Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and KWF Kankerbestrijding (Dutch Cancer Society). The program will be implemented on the ships in the coming month.

Guests of all ages are invited to donate $20 to the Holland America Line Foundation, with a minimum of 80 percent ($16) to be distributed to the organizations. The remaining 20 percent will cover program and administrative expenses. On a day at sea, participants join in a 5k walk around the ship’s decks. Guests may walk less or not at all, as they prefer. Participants also will receive an On Deck for a Cause T-shirt, wristband and a reception following the walk. Depending on the ship, the distance to reach 5k ranges from nine to 12 laps.

So next time you’re on board, we hope to see you out walking “On Deck for a Cause!”

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Holland America Line President and CEO and Seabourn Chairman Stein Kruse joined employees during the companies’ fifth annual community giving week at Northwest Harvest, an organization that feeds the hungry in Washington State.

As part of annual holiday activities, more than 400 Holland America Line and Seabourn employees helped process and prepare more than 100,000 pounds of food for area food banks, shelters and meal programs. During the week of Dec. 3 through 7, employees volunteered for morning and afternoon shifts at the Kent, Wash., distribution center for Northwest Harvest. Kruse also presented Northwest Harvest with a monetary and grocery card donation totaling more than $2,700 on behalf of the cruise lines and their employees.

During the annual volunteer week, Stein Kruse, president and CEO, Holland America Line, and chairman, Seabourn, presents company and employee donations of more than $2,700 to Shelley Rotondo, executive director, Northwest Harvest.

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