Annual Fund Letter
Dear Friend:
I am writing to thank you for your support of Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) and to let you know how you have positively impacted our cause. For over 30 years, our organization has proudly served as your partner in conservation, advocating for the protection of marine life and our coastal environment. We are the driving force behind numerous educational programs which benefit our community and we serve as one of the worldwide leaders in research and rehabilitation of threatened and endangered sea turtles.
Because of your financial support, we are able to keep our free-admission status. This is in alignment with our founder, Eleanor Fletcher’s, vision and mission. However, our free-admission status requires us to be dependent on the kindness and generosity of donors, like you.
With your support, we are able to save thousands of sea turtle lives each year. Within the past year, we have:
- Rehabilitated more than 75 sick or injured sea turtles
- Released over 250 hatchlings
- Documented more than 10,000 nests and
- 25,000 crawls on 9.8 miles of local beaches.
Crisis in Cape Cod:
This past year, LMC was home to many cold-stunned loggerhead sea turtles from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These sea turtles were weakened by a fast drop in sea temperatures and required immediate care. We rose to the occasion when contacted for help by our peer organizations in the Northeast. Your donation enabled us to arrange transportation, install new holding tanks, procure food, administer medicine and heat our sea turtle tanks to save the lives of these endangered species.
I am happy to report that every sea turtle transported to our center was saved by our advanced rehabilitation protocols and successfully released back into the Atlantic Ocean.
Responsible Pier Initiative:
One of LMC’s current loggerhead sea turtle patients, Pederson, is at the center because of the center’s newly created, Responsible Pier Initiative. It all began when a local fisherman at the Juno Beach Pier discovered that he had accidentally hooked a sea turtle. Thanks to the instructional signage posted on the pier, he knew exactly what to do. This signage is part of the newly formed initiative developed by LMC to increase marine life awareness on and around fishing piers. We would not have been able to implement the Responsible Pier Initiative and save Pederson’s life without your kind support.
Our Organization Relies on Contributions:
Your involvement is critical to ensure our leading edge conservation work continues. I am asking you to consider a tax-deductible gift in support of our annual fund. Your support is imperative to our success and ability to deliver world class education, research and sea turtle rehabilitation. No gift is too small.
For your consideration:
- A $25 donation will pay for 2 weeks of food for one patient.
- A $50 donation will pay for 1 week of medication for one patient.
- A $100 donation will help us purchase sea turtle nesting supplies.
- A $250 donation will provide a field trip for students who may not have the means to visit.
- A $1,000 donation will provide much needed medical supplies.
- A $5,000 donation will provide research equipment such as satellite transmitters or ATV’s to assist our researchers in their important field work.
Your contribution allows LMC to drive positive change in our community and on our planet.
I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2014. Thank you so much for your support and kindness.
With Gratitude,
Jack E. Lighton, President & CEO
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
PS: Know your dollar has a significant impact! I have enclosed a photo of Pederson, the sea turtle mentioned earlier in the letter. The only reason Pederson is at LMC is because of your support and donation. Thank you.
To download a version of this appeal letter, click here.
