Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) received a holiday gift that will cultivate conservancy in South Florida and further demonstrate Bank of America’s commitment to environmental sustainability. On Thursday, Dec. 12, LMC joined the bank at the Merrill Palm Beach Office for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the mobile marine debris sorting station’s completion. The station will assist the efforts of Project Shield – a multi-faceted program that provides conservation solutions to man-made threats faced by sea turtles.
Last year, Bank of America granted LMC funds to develop the mobile vehicle as part of the bank’s annual 12 Days of Giving initiative. In 2020, the bank is investing an additional $25,000 to spearhead Project Shield strategies as well. It is committed to helping local communities like Palm Beach thrive by forming strong partnerships with nonprofits that address the greatest issues residents face.
“We are grateful to our community partners who are helping us revolutionize the way we orchestrate beach cleanups, education, and overall conservation,” said LMC Board chairman Lynne Wells. “In 2019 alone, the Center removed more than 392,422 pieces of debris during beach and underwater cleanups. With this gift, we will be able to develop a greater understanding of the waste that’s harming marine life, ecosystems, and our everyday health.”
The presented check will go to one of the cornerstones of LMC’s conservation efforts – Project Shield. Project Shield is a program that provides conservation solutions to fishing piers, recreational boaters, beach-side hotels, snorkel, and SCUBA operators. The program also bands with fishing charter operators, beach access points, and pollution prevention partners.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in 2020,” said Fabiola Brumley, Palm Beach County Market President, Bank of America. “By supporting initiatives like Project Shield, we are helping make a difference in the communities we serve and demonstrating strategies that can be scaled to have a significant impact across the globe.”
Kick-off the new year with conservation in mind! Join LMC in its next Juno Beach clean up on Saturday, February 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Respond to Lynne Wells at [email protected] if you plan on helping.