Crystal launches a campaign for cancer research
The luxury cruise company Crystal has announced a new philanthropic initiative in support of cancer research, in collaboration with the James P. Allison Institute at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The goal of the campaign is to unite the world of luxury travel with that of cutting-edge science, raising awareness and funds in support of cancer research.
MD Anderson Cancer Center and Crystal
Long synonymous with excellence and meaningful connections, Crystal is strengthening its social commitment through a project designed to fund research conducted by the Allison Institute—an innovation hub founded on the discoveries of Nobel Laureate James P. Allison, a pioneer in cancer immunotherapy. The MD Anderson Cancer Center, internationally recognized for its leadership in cancer treatment, research, and prevention, will thus benefit from new resources to accelerate scientific progress and improve patients’ lives.
The initiative will take shape through a series of activities dedicated to Crystal’s guests, who will be invited to actively support the cause. A portion of the proceeds from every booking will be donated to the Allison Institute, directly contributing to its research projects. Over the next fifteen months, Crystal expects the campaign to generate significant funds to advance scientific discovery and therapeutic innovation.
Crystal’s cruise guests will also have the opportunity to make direct donations through the website MDAnderson.org/CrystalCruises, joining a collective movement inspired by solidarity. On Giving Tuesday, December 2, the company will contribute an additional $250 per person for every booking made on select voyages, further amplifying the impact of the initiative.
To complete the campaign, Crystal will host an online charity auction featuring Dance, a bronze sculpture by Japanese artist Satoru Kitago, which had been displayed for years aboard the Crystal Symphony. A portion of the auction proceeds will go to MD Anderson, giving collectors the opportunity to acquire a valuable work of art while supporting a humanitarian cause.
According to Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Co-Chairman of A&K Travel Group, the partnership represents a natural evolution of Crystal’s values. Lefebvre emphasized that philanthropy has always been an integral part of the company’s identity and history and expressed great satisfaction in seeing guests, crew, and staff united in support of such an important cause.
Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, also highlighted the human and personal significance of the initiative, noting that cancer touches everyone’s life in some way. Levis explained that the funds raised will enable the Allison Institute to strengthen its research through new resources and technologies, bringing the scientific community closer to discovering a definitive cure.
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The Director of the Allison Institute, James P. Allison, expressed his gratitude for Crystal’s support, emphasizing that the institute’s work is driven by a desire to deepen the understanding of immunology and to make treatments increasingly effective for a growing number of patients.
With this initiative, Crystal reaffirms its commitment to combining luxury travel with compassion and social impact. The partnership with the MD Anderson Cancer Center marks an important step toward a new form of conscious tourism—one that transforms the travel experience into a tangible opportunity to support research and, ultimately, contribute to the global fight against cancer.
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