Miami Heat owner Micky Arison donates $1 million to Australian bushfire relief efforts

Miami Heat owner and Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison, along with his wife Madeleine, have pledged more than $1 million to bushfire disaster relief efforts in Australia.

The Heat announced Thursday that the couple’s donation will accompany another $250,000 from the Carnival Foundation and five of the cruise company’s other brands.

“This gesture is a sign of our solidarity with the local community,” said Sture Myrmell, president of Carnival Australia. “As a cruise shipping organization with close ties to Australian communities developed over many years, we have been shocked by the devastation from this ongoing disaster.”

According to Carnival, the financial support will address both urgent and long-term recovery efforts. Most of the funds — approximately $1 million — will provide the immediate support needed throughout the country. The Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund will get the remaining $250,000.

“Communities affected by the bushfire crisis are in immediate need,“ Myrmell added, “and we are pleased to be able to contribute in a way that ensures help can be delivered where it is needed most and as quickly as possible.”

This donation follows another $34,270 commitment courtesy of P&O Cruises (Australia) and its guests in late 2019. The Carnival subsidiary collected the aid money to support local bushfire efforts in New South Wales and Queensland.

This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 4:29 PM.