Sea Change in 60 Seconds
July 10, 2024
Aquaculture Conversations
August 7, 2024
Dear Friend of Save Our Shores,
As I pen this farewell message, my heart is filled with a mix of emotions – gratitude, nostalgia, and a touch of sadness. After serving as Save Our Shores’ Executive Director for coming on three years, the time has come for me to bid adieu.
It has been an incredible journey, and certainly one that I will appreciate forever.
Together, we’ve literally weathered storms – some of the most extreme in our county’s history. We’ve celebrated victories and navigated waters in the wake of the pandemic.
All I can think right now is, “Wow.” I leave knowing that our legacy will endure, carried forward by each of you.
On September 21st, for the 40th year in a row, we will host Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is part of a larger international effort for which Save Our Shores is the Monterey Bay regional coordinator.
Collectively, this event is the largest volunteer event on the planet and Save Our Shores has been the local host of this event since its inception in 1984. It is for this effort, that I hope you will support us by making a donation today.
Last year, 1,300 volunteers came out to clean 50 beach and watershed sites throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. And it was no small feat. Volunteers prevented 5,558 pounds of trash and recycling from entering the Monterey Bay.
We are hoping to support at least that many sites this year, maybe more – we usually host between 60 and 70 sites that day – and we need your help to do it.
Each site costs Save Our Shores about $1,000 to host, which means we are looking for more than $50,000 to make it happen. It’s a lot, but your donation of any amount helps us get the work done, one bite at a time.
Here you will find a map showing all the sites we hope to host for Annual Coastal Cleanup Day this year, from Año Nuevo State Beach in the North to Andrew Molera State Park in the South (list of sites).
Save Our Shores is also full steam ahead on our other programs. We rely on your support to:
- Educate thousands of young people every year: both in the classroom and in the field.
- Keep our shores clean and healthy: from hundreds of beach and watershed cleanups to robust public engagement, we’re committed to preserving our coastal ecosystems.
- Advocate for meaningful change: We push for impactful policy change by leveraging real-time data collection and your support.
You can find more information for all these programs on our website. And, as always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions!
Through it all, our shared commitment to our mission – the very heartbeat of our organization – has contributed to our success. You have left an indelible mark.
As I step down from this role, I want to express my deepest gratitude – thank you. Please stay in touch – I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines!
With heartfelt thanks,
Erica Donnelly-Greenan
Departing Executive Director
Save Our Shores
