Generous philanthropic commitment from prominent South Florida family supports several University initiatives

Micky Arison’s entrepreneurial savvy contributes greatly to South Florida’s economic engine. Arison has served as CEO of cruise operator Carnival Corporation since 1979 and chairman of the board since 1990, succeeding his father, Ted, who founded the Miami-based company with one ship in 1972.

The father-and-son duo also was instrumental in creating the basketball enterprise that is now the Miami Heat, a dominant source of hometown pride and camaraderie. Arison’s father brought the NBA franchise here in 1988, but it was Arison’s dynamic leadership as managing general partner since 1995 that molded the Heat into one of the NBA’s top teams. When the Heat’s original home, the Miami Arena, was deemed obsolete, Arison helped to create the public-private partnership that built the county-owned American Airlines Arena.

Arison and his wife, Madeleine, are passionate supporters of numerous arts and community organizations, including the New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, Jackson Memorial Foundation, Miami Children’s Museum, Miami Art Museum, American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way, and Community Partnership for the Homeless. At the University of Miami, the couple has provided $5.5 million in funding toward research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Buoniconti Fund, and the Sayfie Pavilion. The Arisons also helped the University deliver lifesaving care in Haiti following the devastating earthquake there in 2010.

Member of Gables Giving Society