Parker wants to "help animals" to celebrate his 3 years of awesomeness!

Parker got to choose where our fundraising efforts would go this year, and he wants to "help animals". Because of his intense fascination and love of ocean critters, we decided on the MARINE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE. This is why we chose this organization:

We can thank the oceans for providing half of the oxygen we breathe, giving us a fifth of the animal protein we eat and absorbing about a third of human-created CO2 emissions. Oceans are also a highly promising source of new medicines. But, strangely, we, humans, continue to carelessly destroy precious marine ecosystems, home to millions of species from the tiniest plankton to enormous blue whales.

Without healthy oceans, our prosperity – our very survival – will be threatened. Currently only about 2% of our oceans are protected with barely 1% strongly protected in "no-take" reserves—places where no one is allowed to extract fish, oil or other resources. This is not enough to avert disaster! Marine scientists recommend strong protection of 20-30% of our oceans to save marine life from extinction. Through the implementation of Marine Conservation Institute's largest initiative, the Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES, pronounced glôr-ees) they plan to avert extinction of marine life in the face of unprecedented climate change and human impact.

Help us protect 20 to 30% of our oceans, saving marine life and ourselves from extinction. Support GLORES and protect life on Planet Earth!

Just a small donation will go a long way to helping me meet my goal for MARINE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE and healthy oceans!