Protect, Preserve Laguna's Pinnipeds In Giving Day Fundraiser

LAGUNA BEACH— Pacific Marine Mammal Center is partnering with the Orange County Community Foundation and four additional nonprofits this April to host Protect and Preserve, a Giving Day to sustain the ecosystems of Orange County.

A 24-hour online giving effort, a goal of $75,000 in donated funds will support organizations in their shared commitment to environmental education and conservation of natural resources.

"The Protect and Preserve campaign is part of a bold initiative by OCCF to enhance the capacity of local nonprofits through a series of Collaborative Giving Days which launched last year," organizers said in a recent release.

Nonprofits with shared missions are invited to come together to boost collective giving for their causes. OCCF will power the Protect and Preserve campaign by providing seed funding to support the marketing assets, campaign resources and collaborative partnerships. The seven Giving Days held in 2018 raised a total of $1.4 million for local organizations.

“Whether you are a environmentalist or not, the large-scale extreme variations that we are seeing in our environment are alarming and undeniable," said Peter Chang, CEO of PMMC. "At our current rate, we are leaving a legacy of human destruction for the next generation. There needs to be an urgency equal to what’s embedded in the missions of these incredible organizations, which PMMC is honored to be among.”

The five nonprofits participating in the Protect and Preserve Giving Day include Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Crystal Cove Conservancy, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy and California Trout.

“OCCF is proud to empower the efforts of our local nonprofits toward the common goal of protecting and conserving our environment,” said Shelley Hoss, president, OCCF. “We remain committed to encouraging the collaboration of these organizations to maximize their impact and help ensure that Orange County’s natural environment flourishes for years to come.”

OCCF first challenged Orange County residents to “give where their heart lives” during the inaugural i♥oc Giving Day in 2015, raising more than $1.8 million through gifts to 347 participating nonprofits in just 30 hours. OCCF nearly doubled those results in 2016 during the second annual i♥oc Giving Day, receiving contributions totaling $3.2 million for 418 participating nonprofits. In 2017, OCCF re-envisioned i♥oc as an expanded opportunity for nonprofits to connect with one another in support of their shared missions.

To give online during the Protect and Preserve Giving Day, please visit protectandpreserve.funraise.org.

For more information on the Collaborative Giving Days, visit oc-cf.org/iheartoc.

About Pacific Marine Mammal Center Established in 1971, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center was the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California. PMMC is the only marine mammal rescue facility in Orange County and is responsible for 52 miles of coastline. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education and collaboration. Pacific Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Pacificmmc.org

For additional fundraising, the PMMC's Tax-ID number is: 95-3680896