National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: About Us

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Dear Friends,

Click the image to download the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation annual report. (pdf, 4.1MB)

Protect. Preserve. Promote. This is the heart of the mission of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Through our partnership with the federally managed National Marine Sanctuary Program, we work every day to carry out our mission at the 14 sites nationwide that constitute the program. From the Florida Keys to the Hawaiian Islands, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, these unique and special places are truly America’s Underwater Treasures.

These national treasures are becoming more visible and more valued every day thanks to your generous gifts of time and money. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to enhancing education programs and outreach efforts for marine sanctuaries. Your support of our unique mission has allowed us to create Capitol Hill Oceans Week, an annual event highlighting ocean policy issues to key decision makers in the U.S. Congress. Your support of our unique mission has allowed for a ‘facelift’ at Washington, D.C.’s National Aquarium, which now highlights marine sanctuaries around the country. Your support of our unique mission has allowed hundreds of Hispanic students and their families to learn more about the marine environment through the MERITO (Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans) education program. These are just a few highlights of what we have achieved.

We have, in fact, been so occupied with carrying out our mission that we have not previously focused on publishing an Annual Report. Thus, this document represents the accomplishments achieved in the first three years of our existence. In that time we have grown from a one-person, volunteer staff to a staff of four. At the same time we have maintained our commitment to keeping our administrative costs low—just 10% of our overall budget. Our focus is, and always will be, on being an effective force in preserving, protecting and promoting our underwater treasures.

The creation of this organization was inspired by the work of Trustee and artist Robert Lyn Nelson whose signature “two worlds” style of painting depicts the richness of life on both land and in the water. It is the connection between these two worlds that helps inspire our stewardship efforts and guides our education and outreach programs.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is fortunate to have the guidance of an esteemed Board of Trustees, and we would like to thank our congressional, federal, non-profit and industry partners for their support. As Andrew Carnegie once said, “Teamwork… is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”

Sincerely,
Lori Arguelles signature
Lori Arguelles
Executive Director