To mark the National Day of Service, nearly 100 employees from the cruise industry volunteered Thursday with Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys to build a house for a veteran in the Southern California area.

Volunteers from three Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member lines – Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises – joined the “Habitat for Heroes” initiative, which was created by Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV and the California Department of Veterans Affairs to help build 12 houses for low-income veteran families. Together, the volunteers helped with the framing, insulation and construction of a new house in the Sylmar neighborhood.

“We’re proud that members of our industry took a day out of the office to help a local veteran’s family, which truly exemplifies the spirit of the National Day of Service,” said Christine Duffy, President and CEO of CLIA. “Across the globe, members of the cruise industry donate their time and resources to a variety of community partners. Volunteer events like today’s are just one example of how the cruise industry gives back to worthy organizations in the ports where ships visit and the communities where employees live and work.”

“Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV commends Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its members for supporting veteran families this September 11th,” said Richard Doss, Chairman of the Board for Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV. “So many of our servicemen and women have fought to protect our freedoms to return home to poor living conditions and lack of life skills to be successful in the middle class economy. Today, CLIA is making sure this will never be the case for the low-income veteran families moving into the Sylmar Habitat for Heroes neighborhood.”

About CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise holiday vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members. CLIA’s Associate Member and Executive Partner programs include the industry’s leading providers of supplies and services that help cruise lines provide a safe, environmentally-friendly and enjoyable holiday vacation experience for millions of passengers every year. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org.

About Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys

Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys is a separately incorporated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.  Serving North Los Angeles City and County, this Habitat affiliate builds low-income and veteran housing and provides life skills to families that enable them to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community. This affiliate has created this unique “Enriched Neighborhood” development model utilized at its 61 home community in Pacoima, and in its new 12-home veteran community in Sylmar, CA and 87-home veteran community in Santa Clarita, CA. To learn more visit www.HumanityCA.org.