By Mary Fomby
The Gulfarium CARE Center is proud to announce the tremendous success of its annual CARE on the Coast TurtleFest, held Saturday, April 18th, at Gulfarium. With more than 1,200 tickets sold, the event raised over $155,000 to support local sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts.
Guests from across the Emerald Coast gathered for an afternoon of live entertainment, food and drinks from local vendors, animal meet & greets, educational activities, and conservation partner exhibits, all in support of the Gulfarium CARE Center’s mission to protect and preserve marine life.
“TurtleFest is a celebration of both community and conservation,” said Patrick Berry, President/CEO of Gulfarium. “Seeing over a thousand guests come together to enjoy the festival while directly supporting our life-saving work with sea turtles is incredibly meaningful. Every dollar raised helps us continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing these animals back into the Gulf.”
Funds raised from the event directly benefit the Gulfarium CARE Center, which has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of sea turtles since 2015. These funds help cover the cost of medical care, food, and rehabilitation for injured and endangered sea turtles along the Gulf Coast.
“This level of community support makes a real difference for every patient that comes through our doors,” said Sarah Kamen, Stranding Coordinator for the Gulfarium CARE Center. “From hook and line injuries to cold stunning events, the CARE Center can respond quickly and provide critical care because of events like TurtleFest. We are so grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to our mission.”
The Gulfarium CARE Center extends its sincere appreciation to the event’s sponsors, including title sponsor Valparaiso Coca-Cola, as well as Saltwater Restaurant Group, Omni-Broadcasting, Florida Power & Light, Eglin Federal Credit Union, Daher Contracting, Okaloosa Gas District, Cattywampus Aquatic Adventures, Cumulus Media, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, whose generous support helped make this impactful event possible.
The Gulfarium CARE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, remains committed to marine animal rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation education along the Gulf Coast.
Follow the C.A.R.E. Center on Facebook to learn more about sea turtles and the center’s rehabilitation efforts. The C.A.R.E. Center and its patients can be visited as part of a general admission ticket to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.
If you encounter a sea turtle in distress, please report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).
