Photo by The Telegraph, UK

Dine in style and help marine life at the same time! On January 26th, the Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa will donate 15% of your total food and beverage bill to the National Marine Life Center! You can eat a wonderful breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner and your meal will be even more delicious because you will be supporting NMLC’s marine animal rehabilitation, science, and education programs.

Simply print this flyer and present it to your server.

The Dan’l Webster is at 149 Main Street in Sandwich. Reservations recommended but not required – call 508-888-3622. The fundraiser goes on all day, so you can eat anytime they’re serving. Just remember to print this flyer and give it to your server.

Bon appetit!

PAMS Student Council President and Representative.

Over two thousand miles away from Cape Cod, in the heart of the Navajo Nation, students at the Pinon Accelerated Middle School recently held a talent show to raise money for the National Marine Life Center’s new marine animal hospital.

Stating he “saw a sticker on a box,” one student researched NMLC on the internet and suggested the talent show fundraiser to the Student Council.  Another student cheered “Go turtles!”

PAMS teacher Ms. Kristin Monts

Ms. Monts, the students’ teacher, explained that in the Navajo culture, turtles are very important.  The students wanted to help an organization that helps turtles.  They did the internet research and selected the National Marine Life Center.  During the talent show, one student even brought in a pet turtle as a mascot!

The students read poetry, danced, sang, and played the guitar.  Over the course of an evening, they raised $500 for the National Marine Life Center!  Here is a video the students produced about talent show.

On behalf of our future marine animal patients who will benefit from your donation, thank you students!  You are an inspiration!

Student presenting a reading at the PAMS talent show.

Some of the student talent!

Students dancing in the PAMS talent show.

Students show off their guitar skills!

Announcing the next act!

Another talented musician!

Student checks out the turtle mascot.

It's all about the animals!

Thank you, Convention Data Services!

Convention Data Services (CDS), one of the largest private employers on Cape Cod, held a charity golf tournament in memory of its founder. The 5th Annual Douglas J. Fletcher Memorial Golf Tournament took place on September 15th, 2011 at The Brookside Club in Bourne, MA. This year’s tournament exceeded last year’s donation amount, raising $27,000 to benefit the National Marine Life Center, an organization strongly supported by Mr. Fletcher. Raffle co-sponsors onPeak and CDS provided the Grand Prize—a 3-night stay at any Marriot Hotel located in the Americas and airfare for two.

Karen, John, Sue, Ken, and Peter check out the DJF Sea Turtle & Seal Rehabilitation Pool.

Convention Data Services’ Golf Committee, led by newly appointed President & CEO, John Kimball, presented the donation check to Kathy Zagzebski, President & Executive Director of the National Marine Life Center on Friday, October 14, 2011 at the center’s headquarters in Buzzards Bay, MA. They also checked out the “Douglas J. Fletcher Memorial Sea Turtle & Seal Rehabilitation Pool”, newly open to sea turtle patients.

Click here for additional photos and a list of sponsors.

For over two decades, Convention Data Services has been providing state-of-the-art registration, database management, exhibitor lead retrieval services and event marketing to the tradeshow industry, serving the needs of businesses and non-profit associations. For the 4th consecutive year, the company was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the country.

Beyond their professional accolades, we appreciate CDS because it’s a wonderful local company with an ethic of supporting their community.  Their staff are fun and genuinely helpful, always willing to lend advice and ideas as well as their time.  Thank you, Convention Data Services!

Golfers scramble to get into position for a shotgun start!

There's nothing like playing for a good cause!

Atlantis ($5,000+):
Cape Cod Media Group

Sirenia ($1,000+):
Jeff Luce
Kathy Zagzebski

Triton ($500+):
Luke’s Super Liquors
Richard & Gertrude Williams

Pirate ($250+):
Antaeus Wealth Management
H&R Block
Liquid Products
Sallie Riggs & Mike Corgan
Sessler Wrecking
Jim & Ann Marie Zagzebski

In-Kind/Other:
A Direct Solution/Erica Waasdorp
Alpha Graphics of New Bedford
Michelle Bosch Photography
The Image & Mail Factory
Hiller Chrysler Dodge
Pairpoint Glass Works
Photos by Jeff
R&H Construction
Willowbend Country Club

This joyful costume ball is the National Marine Life Center’s signature fundraising event that benefits the center’s rehabilitation, science, and education programs and raises critical funds to help complete the center’s new marine animal hospital and rehabilitation facility in downtown Buzzards Bay.

The Mermaid Ball is a fun filled evening including a reception, live and silent auctions, dinner, and live music by the GinaMark band, with mermaids, pirates, sea creatures, and some special surprises!

Patrons are encouraged to attend in costume or creative black tie. Tickets are $125 and include hors d’oeuvres, gourmet dinner, live entertainment, and a limited edition Pairpoint suncatcher created exclusively for the Mermaid Ball. Space is limited and the event tends to sell out early. If you are not able to attend but would like to support the National Marine Life Center you may make a contribution online, or by visiting the center. Become a “steward of the Seas” for a guaranteed “whale of a time”! Tickets may be purchased online, by calling 508-743-9888, or by visiting the Center at 120 Main St., Buzzards Bay.

Cartoon by: NicoCartoons.blogspot.com

Feed a marine animal pizza?  Not a good idea.  Eat pizza to help marine animals?  Excellent!

Click on Uno's logo for ticket to print and give to your server.

Uno Chicago Grill in Hyannis is sponsoring a “dough raiser” for the National Marine Life Center.  On Wednesday, July 20 and Saturday, July 23, they will donate up to 20% of your check to NMLC.  Just present this ticket (click here) to your server and they’ll take care of the rest.

So, dine in or take out.  Enjoy yummy pizza, fresh salad, or a variety of other mouth-watering dishes including sandwiches, steak, chicken, and seafood.  Even beverages!  Your meal will be even more delicious knowing that you’re helping save marine animals, advance science, and inspire ocean conservation through education.

A special thank you to Uno Chicago Grill, Hyannis for this unique and scrumptious way to raise dough for the National Marine Life Center!

Additional Sponsors – <$100
Coca Cola Cape Cod
Shaws
Stop & Shop

Today, Marisa and her family stopped by for our Patient Update.  I had the chance to thank her and ask some questions.

KZ:  Why did you decide to collect money on Halloween?

Marisa:  I like sea animals.  I like sea turtles a lot.  I’ve done this for other groups too.  In fourth grade I collected donations for the Sea Turtle Conservancy and in second grade I collected donations for the Defenders of Wildlife.

KZ:  What did your neighbors think?

Marisa:  They thought it was a good idea!

KZ:  What is your favorite animal?

Marisa:  The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, because they’re cool and a lot of them come up here and get stranded.

KZ:  What is your one wish for the National Marine Life Center?

Marisa:  To have a really good marine hospital and help a lot of animals.

Thank you, Marisa.  With kids like you who care enough to make a difference, the National Marine Life Center will be able to build our hospital and help lots of animals.

The National Marine Life Center, though our partner Donate For Charity, accepts cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, RV’s, and boats with trailers from all 50 states. Donate For Charity arranges a free vehicle pickup, handles all the RMV/DMV issues, sells the vehicle at auction, and distributes the net proceeds to the National Marine Life Center. By donating, you avoid the headache of selling a used vehicle, receive a receipt entitling you to a tax deduction, AND support NMLC’s marine animal rehabilitation, science, and education programs. When you are ready to donate, or want to learn more, simply call Donate For Charity toll-free at (866) 392-4483 or complete a simple online form at www.donateforcharity.com.  It’s fast, it’s easy, and it really makes a difference.

Cars for critters – COOL!

Whenever I meet with people and show them around the National Marine Life Center, they inevitably say: “Wow, this is an awesome organization. You do great work. Someone should give you lots of money.”

I’ve searched high and low to find that “someone.” With “Someone’s” help, the National Marine Life Center would have plenty of funds. We’d be able to help thousands of animals, make huge advances in conservation science, teach tens of thousands of children. We’d have a fully complete hospital, a new discovery center, and we’d be an economic engine in our community. We’d be realizing our full potential.

Then I realized, there is no magic “someone.” Someone is us. All of us. Together, we are making a difference.

You… me… us. If we are to continue moving forward, continue making a difference in the lives of the animals – and the people – that the National Marine Life Center serves, we have to continue to give.

Please, join me in making a year-end donation of $10, $25, $50, or $100 to the National Marine Life Center. There’s still time. And you can make a world of difference.

Thank you for your support.