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Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford Teams Up with Actress Lauren Potter for Special Olympics Unified Sports Challenge
Ashfordand Potter compete with Special Olympics Athlete Mike Van Zee
Seattle, Wash., July 12, 2018 —Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford participated in thefirst-everESPN |Special Olympics Unified Sports Challenge, held Sunday, July 1, 2018,at the University of Washington's Husky Ballpark. Ashford was among anexclusive group of executives who competed with employees, celebrities andSpecial Olympics athletes in multiple Unified Sports challenges – all to raisemoney for Special Olympics and the Seattle community. Holland America Line wasa presenting sponsor for the Seattle Art Mural project of the Special OlympicsUSA Games.
The event preceded the start of competitions at the 2018 Special Olympics USAGames in Seattle (July 1-6) and was staged by Special Olympics and ESPN, theofficial broadcaster of the USA Games.
Actress Lauren Potter, most recognizable for her role as Becky Jackson in thehit television show "Glee," teamed up with Ashford, along with Special Olympicsathlete Mike van Zee and Holland America Line employees Erik Elvejord,Director, Public Relations and Dan Rough, Director Pricing and Demand.
"It was an honor to support and participate in the Special Olympics in ourhometown of Seattle alongside Lauren and all of the inspiring athletes who showwhat can be accomplished with hard work, dedication and giving it everythingyou have," said Ashford. "The Special Olympics embody what it means to beinclusive, compassionate and accessible, and we will continue to support itsmission and advocate opportunities for all."
Throughout the day, the teams rotated around 12 activity stations including HotShot Basketball, Penalty Shoot Soccer, Just Dance, Team Bocce, Inflatable DartBoard, Football Accuracy Challenge, Giant Memory Game and Golf Putting.
Van Zee is from Spokane, Washington, and started in the Special Olympicsprogram in 1983 learning to powerlift. He first competed in the SpecialOlympics Games in 1988 and has gone on to participate in numerous SpecialOlympics, including the Special Olympics World Games.
As a presenting sponsor, Holland America Line supported the Seattle Art Muralproject. Under the guidance of Seattle-based artist Catherine Mayer, 20 SpecialOlympics Washington athletes participated in three workshops to create artmurals for the 2018 USA Games. Mayer assembled the 26-foot-long murals thatwere displayed around Seattle and at the Healthy Athletes venue at the USAGames. A seven-day cruise also was donated for a photo contest in the I'm a Game Changercampaign, which recognized unsung heroes working on behalf of people withintellectual disabilities.
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About HollandAmerica Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL andCUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers more than 500 cruises to morethan 400 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies around the world.From shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises visit allseven continents, with highlights including Antarctica explorations, SouthAmerica circumnavigations, Cuba cruises and exotic Australia/New Zealand andAsia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean,Alaska, Mexico, Canada and New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal.The line welcomed Koningsdamin 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class ship,Nieuw Statendam, tobe delivered in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship is due for deliveryin 2021.
The company is undergoing $300 million in brand enhancements to secure itsposition as the leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships featureinnovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused ondestination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand theirknowledge through an exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine; duringan America's Test Kitchen show; at Explorations Café presented by The New YorkTimes; and by taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstandingentertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center Stage,Billboard Onboard and B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining experience can besavored at a variety of restaurants with menus that feature selections fromHolland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefswho design dishes exclusively for our guests.
CONTACT: | Sally Andrews |
PHONE: | 800-637-5029 |
EMAIL: | pr@hollandamerica.com |
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