These comments underscore the important role aesthetics play when attracting more visitors to DRC. For that reason, we have decided to invest in the beautification of the front parking lot. A major part of our mission is to educate people and the best way to do that is to have them visit. Plans include much needed landscaping which will drastically improve the curb appeal for travelers and a resurfacing of the parking area that will allow us to use the space to better accommodate vehicles; especially when it rains and half the lot disappears underwater.

This project will cost us $110,000 however DRC’s Board of DIrectors has pledged to match up to $20,000 of donations! This means that your donation could be doubled by their generosity!

Click HERE if you’d like donate to help out with this very important project!

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Louie - September 2, 2010If a friend knocked on your door and asked you to help with an orphaned child, would you turn them away? What if it occurred during a time when you and your family were financially strained? Would you close the door on them? Of course not. Neither would Dolphin Research Center. A huge part of our mission is to provide homes for marine mammals in need and Louie and Lina are certainly no exception; regardless of budget concerns. Like you, we could not turn our back on these two wonderful new additions to the DRC family.

Lina – January 13, 2011The last year we have seen a reduction in revenue from a lesser number of visitors to the Keys from snowstorms stranding people in airports during holidays, oil spill fears, and a general reduction in donations due largely from economic conditions. We could not have predicted that two additional orphans would have appeared at our door within such a short time frame and yes, it is financially straining.

Lina TodayLina became part of the Dolphin Research Center family on January 13, 2011 from the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) at Ft. McArthur in San Pedro, California, where she been designated as a ‘repeat strander’ by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the MMCC. At the time she arrived at DRC it was estimated that she was about 2.5 years old. Lina is a very active, affectionate and warm sea lion who has definitely warmed the hearts of everyone who knows her.

Louie TodayLouie is a young male dolphin that was stranded in Louisiana on September 2, 2009 and he arrived at DRC on February 6, 2011. He was named Louie, in honor of his Louisiana roots. Louie’s tale is a true survivor’s story. He was discovered on Fourchon Beach, LA covered in oil and suffering additional injuries. Estimated to be about 1 ½ years old when rescued, Louie didn’t have adequate skills needed to survive in the wild and was deemed non-releasable by the federal government. Louie has been a wonderful addition to the DRC family and well represents DRC’s mission to provide a forever home to marine mammals in need. He is a very loving dolphin and extremely happy in his new DRC home.

We need your help to care for these amazing new family members.

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Dolphin Research Center has a long tradition of reaching out to children and adults with special needs. They have always held a warm place in our hearts. This is why we created the Pathways and Dolfriend programs. Your contribution will go a long way to help us continue to provide these programs. Thanks to the generous support of our Chairman of the Board Peter Lappin and his family, your contribution will be matched for the first $5,000 so every dollar you send will be doubled!

The Pathway and Dolfriend programs are designed to reach out to those with special needs and provide them with an entrance into the dolphins’ world. Educational and recreational activities are introduced to help increase motivation and enhance the personalized experience. Unfortunately these programs run at a deficit with an annual loss of over $80,000!

Click here to help us support our special needs programs.

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You can help us celebrate a dolphin's birthday or anniversary at DRC by buying them their favorite treat - a big bucket of fish.  Each bucket costs $20. 

Click here to send a Birthday Bucket of Fish.

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Click Here To Join The Walk Of Fame.

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