8th BIRTHDAY
8 YEARS OF CARE, COMMITMENT AND CONCRETE
ACTION
8 years ago, the MSC Foundation was created to bring the MSC Group’s philanthropic commitments together in one dedicated entity.
What makes the Foundation different is the unique strength it draws from MSC: the long-term vision of the family behind it, the global reach, , and deep knowledge of the sea. Together, these strengths allow the Foundation to engage people and partners across the world, act with care and continuity, and support impactful programmes for communities and our blue planet.
Built on the Aponte family’s long-held vision and MSC’s deep connection with the sea, the Foundation has grown into a global platform
for action, delivering programmes and partnerships that support both people and nature around the world.
Guided by its vision to restore the critical balance between people and nature within a generation, its work spans marine conservation, community support, education and emergency relief, creating lasting impact through collaboration, innovation and longterm commitment.
As we celebrate the MSC Foundation’s 8th birthday, this special edition looks back at the people, partnerships and milestones that have shaped our journey so far - and ahead to our next chapter of commitment in action.
An anniversary is always much more than a date. It is a moment to pause and reflect, to look back in gratitude, recognising the people, partners and colleagues who made the journey possible.
So now, as the MSC Foundation celebrates its 8th birthday, I would like to express my deepest thanks to everyone who has helped transform a heartfelt commitment into concrete action.
Our Foundation has grown steadily during this time not by moving away from its origins, but by staying faithful to them: acting with care, choosing strong partners and focusing on work that can make a lasting difference.
This birthday is therefore not only a celebration of our journey and the impact it has achieved. It is also a reminder of the responsibility we bear for the years ahead. The challenges facing people and planet are more urgent than ever, and our role is to continue meeting them with determination, humility and purpose.
To everyone who has been part of this journey: thank you. The next chapter begins in the same spirit that brought us here: commitment in action.
Pierfrancesco Vago Chair of the Executive Committee, MSC Foundation
8 YEARS OF THE MSC FOUNDATION
On 27 June in Geneva, the MSC Foundation is established as the philanthropic arm of the MSC Group, built on the Aponte Family’s long-term vision.
New Plastic Bricks to Classrooms UNICEF programme in Côte d’Ivoire, empowering 16,570 children, recycling 616,000 kg of plastic and building 112 classrooms.
Our COVID-19 response supports 250,000 people across 23 countries with medical supplies, food and the delivery of3 million emergency relief items.
We partner with Universities of Miami and Nova Southeastern to establish graduate internships for the Super Coral Reefs Programme.
We mobilise CHF 7m to support over 650,000 refugees from Ukraine with accommodation, relief items and logistics.
2019 2018 2022 2021
Dedicated to marine conservation, community support, education and emergency relief, our vision is to restore the critical balance between people and nature within a generation.
2020
The Bahamas, advancing coral resilience and restoration.
THE PEOPLE DRIVING OUR MISSION
We are building a community of Ocean Citizens with Marevivo since 2015, delivering leading marine conservation courses across Italian schools.
We host workshops at a UN global youth summit in Italy, empowering over 100 young people in ocean literacy, sustainability, and leadership.
What is the Foundation’s vision?
The MSC Foundation was founded in 2018 with a clear conviction: that we all have a duty to leave a better world for future generations, and that the MSC Group — with its global reach and generations of knowledge of the sea — is uniquely placed to help.
Our vision is to restore the critical balance between people and planet within a generation: a deliberately ambitious one! We pursue it across four focus areas – environmental conservation, education, community support and emergency relief – and in every case through immediate, concrete action that builds lasting change.
Where does the Foundation go from here?
The world is more turbulent than ever, which makes our role all the more necessary. Conceived as a foundation for the oceans, our work has shown that contributing to science and environmental conservation goes hand in hand with supporting the people depend on healthy marine ecosystems.
We will continue to build on what works — advancing marine conservation, strengthening local capacities and engaging communities. Real change happens when we act together, with humility and long-term commitment. That is the promise we renew as we turn eight.
What does this eighth anniversary mean to the Foundation ?
For us, it’s a moment to take stock, not to slow down. Eight years on, our purpose is unchanged. What has changed, however, is our scale.
From 7 programmes in 5 countries in our first year, we have implemented 24 programmes in 18 countries over the years, while also supporting 88 initiatives and 34 emergency operations across 77 countries. Since the beginning of our journey, we have reached over 2.7 million people.
Today, 12 active programmes in 11 countries continue to carry that commitment forward.
What sets the Foundation apart?
We are a family-led foundation that works through partnership and never alone.
Backed by the MSC Group’s global reach and deep seafaring expertise, we can connect people, resources and knowledge where they are needed most.
Because the MSC Group covers our operating costs, 100% of every donation goes directly to our programmes. That trust, combined with carefully chosen scientific and humanitarian partners, is what turns ambition into results.
Matthew McKinnon Chair of the Advisory Board, MSC Foundation
Daniela Picco Executive Director, MSC Foundation
We launch the Super Coral Reefs Programme at Ocean Cay in
We organise the "Ballata per Genova" fundraiser concert to drive Genoa’s recovery after the Morandi Bridge collapse and develop Il Parco del Mare.
Ocean Cay is designated a Mission Blue Hope Spot, recognising its importance for ocean health and marine conservation.
MSC Group and the MSC Foundation’s major donation helps launch construction of a new Mercy Ships hospital vessel
We inaugurate our Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay alongside Prime Minister Davis of The Bahamas and Dr Sylvia Earle.
2023 2025 2024
We respond to the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, contributing CHF 3.6m to help 350,000 people and house 1,700 others on MSC Aurelia.
Our support for IUCN’s global coral assessment leads to updating the status of 892 reef-building corals on the Red List of Threatened Species
How does the Foundation decide where to act?
It starts by identifying urgent needs where it can make a meaningful contribution, then defines clear objectives and selects partners for their expertise, reputation and proven track record.
These range from global organisations such as IUCN, UNICEF, UNHCR and Mercy Ships to specialist partners with deep local knowledge, such as Marevivo and the Perry Institute for Marine Science. Each programme is carefully implemented, monitored and evaluated to ensure lasting impact rather than one-off interventions.
How does the Foundation respond when emergencies occur?
Emergency relief is one of is one of our greatest strengths. Leveraging the global reach of the MSC Group and the capabilities of its Cargo Division in particular, the Foundation moves essential, lifesaving supplies quickly to where they are needed.
From early pandemic response to today’s humanitarian operations, this work has reached million people in nearly 70 countries, with containers shipped free of charge and many more donated. partners and shape sound projects. It extends our reach and keeps our work rooted in local realities.
The coin ceremony of Africa Mercy II, the next Mercy Ships hospital ship, marking a major milestone in our partnership to expand access to life-changing surgical care in Africa.
2026
We launch The Learning Bridge with UNICEF, a new programme targeting 400,000 vulnerable children in the Philippines with quality education.
Since the beginning of our journey we reached over 2.7 million people in 72 countries through 182 programmes, initiatives and emergency relief operations.
Marina Anselme Secretary General, MSC Foundation
Chiara Cutolo Advocacy & Fundraising Senior Manager, MSC Foundation
Your work centres on cruise guests at sea. Why is that so important?
Because our guests are at the heart of everything we do. Our presence at sea gives us a unique platform to raise awareness, inspire support and connect with people from around the world. Over the Foundation’s eight years, we have grown into an integrated platform across both the MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys fleets, engaging more than 1.8 million guests every year.
Every voyage is a chance to share the story of our blue planet and invite guests to play a part in its protection. Having come from the Cruise Division myself, I have seen first-hand how eager our guests are to support causes that make a positive difference.
How do guests connect with the Foundation during their journey?
Travellers can discover our work on the waves through our Centres, where trained Representatives share our story and show the impact of our programmes, from coral restoration to education and emergency relief.
Younger guests and families can also take part in “Ocean Day Powered by MSC Foundation”, with games and activities developed with partners such as Mission Blue, gaining new knowledge and an Ocean Ambassador certificate. They can further support our work by donating, joining onboard activities or making a purposeful purchase from our “Buy for Good” collection.
At Ocean Cay, visitors can join the “We Move for Coral” guided walk, visit our Marine Conservation Center and, from 2027, experience “Shifting Perspectives”, an immersive journey beneath the ocean surface that deepens their understanding of coral reef restoration and protection.
From the MSC Foundation Team: Analia, Antonia, Barbara, Camilla, Chiara, Constanza, Daniela, Dorina, Duran, Emanuel, Emanuele, Emeline, Fede, Federica, Gabrielle, Hany, Henry, Jonathan, Kim, Lenka, Mahyra, Maria, Marina, Matthew, Maxsuel, Osvaldo, Paul, Raphael, Soukaina and Walcott:
for joining us on this voyage to leave a better world for future generations.
Scan to discover the MSC Foundation’s programmes and initiatives, and learn how each of