Loggerhead Marinelife Center Announces Record-Setting Number of Global Finalists for the 2020 Go Blue Awards
It was the champagne pop heard around the world as we virtually kicked-off the 12th Annual Go Blue Awards! On Thursday, September 24, ocean conservationists joined from near and far for our virtual happy hour, which announced the Go Blue Awards finalists upon a record-breaking international nomination pool. The founders and co-chairs of the Go Blue Awards, Lynne and Pete Wells, served as emcees of the virtual kick-off and live happy hour from the outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital at LMC.
Guests were treated to remarks from this year’s keynote speaker and National Geographic photographer and founder of The Photo Ark, Joel Sartore. Sartore recognized the Center’s extraordinary efforts towards sea turtle and ocean conservation and thanked all of the nominees and finalists for their efforts to protect marine life and our planet.
Go Blue Awards Finalists for 2020:
The Eleanor Fletcher Award, named for the founder of Loggerhead Marinelife Center, recognizes an individual who has exemplified a lifelong, extraordinary commitment to marine conservation through their work or volunteer activities.
- Lad Akins (Key Largo, FL)
- Dr. Pablo Garcia Borboroglu (Patagonia, Argentina)
- Regina Domingo (La Pax, Mexico)
- Chris Maxey (Eleuthera, Bahamas)
The Blue Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes a person who has made significant contributions in marine conservation through volunteer-related activities.
- Mario Cisneros (Miami, FL)
- Xander Fong (New York, NY)
- Jillian Morris (Bimini, Bahamas)
- Dara Schoenwald (Miami Beach, FL)
The Blue Friend of the Year Award recognizes a person who has made significant contributions in marine conservation through work-related activities.
- Dianna Cohen (Los Angeles, CA)
- Daniela Fernandez (San Francisco, CA)
- Sarah Hirsch (Juno Beach, FL)
- Charles R. Modica (Jupiter, FL)
The Blue Hatchling Youth Award recognizes students up to and including 12th grade who have made significant contributions in marine conservation through volunteer-related activities.
- Miles Fetherston-Resch (St. Petersburg, FL)
- Ella Grace Galaski-Rossen (Ajax, Ontario)
- Ryan Moralevitz (Palm Harbor, FL)
- Alexandra Spoto (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
The Blue Business of the Year Award recognizes a business that has made outstanding contributions toward promoting and encouraging conservation, restoration, or preservation of marine life and/or marine ecosystems through their business practices, products or technology.
- Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa (Manalapan, FL)
- Hog Snappers Shack & Sushi (Tequesta, FL)
- Kind Traveler (Manhattan Beach, CA)
- One World Zero Waste (Tequesta, FL)
The Blue Nonprofit of the Year Award will recognize a nonprofit that has made outstanding contributions toward promoting conservation or restoration of marine life or ecosystems through their practices, products or technology.
- American Shark Conservancy (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
- Love the Oceans (Mozambique)
- Pelagios Kakunja (La Paz, Mexico)
- Perry J. Cohen Foundation (Tequesta, FL)
“Pete and I were honored to present the Go Blue Awards kick-off during this unique time. It’s exciting to know that in such a short period, our virtual kick-off has been viewed over 14,000 times from a global audience,” said LMC Board Chair, Lynne Wells. “Every year we are inspired by our worldwide nominees who are working so hard to help protect and preserve our planet and marine life. And our virtual viewership shows that supporters don’t have to be in a traditional venue to be vastly invested in ocean conservation.”
Hosted by our team, the Annual Go Blue Awards Luncheon recognizes and awards four individuals and one business or nonprofit that promotes, implements, or contributes to a “blue” lifestyle surrounding marine conservation. The Center’s Go Blue Awards Luncheon is recognized as Florida’s premier ocean conservation awards event and is judged by an independent panel of globally-renowned conservation experts.
A special thank you to our community partners and event sponsors, including Northern Trust; Florida Power & Light; Pete and Lynne Wells; Burke Young Photography; Monique Brechter and Steven Heinemann; Bart and Julie Livolsi; Seven Kings Holdings; Caler, Donten, Levine, Cohen, Porter & Veil, P.A.; AW Property Co.; Bodvár – House of Rosés; Tiffany & Co.; Tommy Bahama.
The virtual 12th Annual Go Blue Awards will be hosted live on Friday, October, 23 at 6 p.m. EST. Individual tickets start at $25 and are available online. Our party boxes are also available for purchase with or without Bodvár Rosé, and include a Photo Ark photo from Joel Sartore’s collection, sea turtle adoption, a chance for a surprise luxury gift, and more! Younger viewers can also order party boxes specifically designed for them. To learn more about the event ticket options and read more about the finalists, please visit: marinelife.org/goblue
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea turtle research, rehabilitation and educational institution that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The Center features an on-site hospital, research laboratory, educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-charge each year. The Center’s conservation team works with 90 local and international organizations across six continents to form partnerships and share conservation initiatives and best practices that are core to its mission of ocean conservation. The Center is expanding and has launched its Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s conservation and education impact. When complete, the facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and unique experiences for guests and scientific partners. For more information, visit www.marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.
Media Contact:
Lauren Eissey
Public Relations and Engagement Specialist
561-627-8280, x124