Dear Marine Discovery Center Members and Supporters:

Seasons Greetings from all of us at the Marine Discovery Center! We would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU for helping us persevere through this challenging year. With your help and support we met the goal of our Keep Our Kids Afloat campaign and our “Discovery” boat is once again ready to provide eager students with an opportunity to experience the wonders of the Indian River Lagoon. Thank You!

Through your support of the Marine Discovery Center in 2010 you have helped achieve many great accomplishments including:

• 4,000 children benefited from our marine science education programs
• 2,200 Oyster Mats were made by 284 volunteers who committed 1,219 hours
• 3,000 students were taught safe boating and ethical angling in their classrooms
• 5,627 people from the general public learned about the Indian River Lagoon through our hands-on Eco Tours

As we embark upon the year 2011, we are excited by our new challenge the Kids’ Dolphin Discovery Program. Our goal for 2011 is to provide 2,000 disadvantaged children with an opportunity to observe and study the amazing behaviors of Bottlenose Dolphin while aboard the “Discovery”. We would like to provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for these children! Most of them have NEVER been on a boat or seen a dolphin in the wild! Can you help? For as little as $25, a child can experience a 3-hour eco-adventure focused on Bottlenose Dolphins and a lifetime of fond memories. For only $1,000 we can provide 40 children or 2 classrooms with this unique dolphin experience!

As the end of the year approaches and decisions on charitable donations are pondered, I hope that you’ll consider our Kids’ Dolphin Discovery Program. I am asking for your help to make a holiday 2010 tax-deductible donation for our children.

Please review the attached Holiday Gift Form and put an MDC gift in your name in the stocking of a loved one. Provide good cheer to over 7000 children and make 2011 a great year!

Sincerely,

Chad Truxall
Director of Education