The Florida Aquarium 2022 Annual Report

PURPOSE. PASSION. PROGRESS.

Officers

Kimberly A. Bruce, Chair

Roger Germann, President

Kimberly Casey, Vice-President

Douglas Brigman, Treasurer

K. Tyler Hill, Secretary

FY22 Board of Directors

Paul Anderson

Dave Bevirt

Matthew Blair

G. Robert Blanchard, Jr.

Daniel Borasch

Doulgas Brigman

Charlotte Brittain

Kimberly A. Bruce

Hon. Jane Castor (Designee: Dennis Rogero)

Doreen Caudell

Veronica Cintron

Santiago Corrada

John Couris

Hon. Janet Cruz

Supt. Addison Davis (Designee: Larry Plank)

Lauren Fernandez

Reginald Goins

Andrea Gonzmart-Williams

Kristin Greco

Marcus Greene

Jody Haneke

Felicia Harvey

Tom Hernandez

K. Tyler Hill

Dale Hoffman

Jay Miller

Hon. Charlie Miranda

Douglas Montgomery

Thomas Mosey

Lakshmi Shenoy

Hon. Mariella Smith

Hon. Jackie Toledo

Eric Weisberg

James Weiss

FY22 Foundation Members

Reginald Goins, Chair

Kimberly Bruce

K. Tyler Hill

Kimberly Casey, Ex-Officio

FY22 Honorary Board Members

Carmen Barkett

Richard A. Beard, III

Ted A. Beattie

William E. Crown, III

James L. Ferman

Thomas Hall

Eugene McNichols

Hon. Sandy Murman

Robert Sharp

Cyrus Spurlino

DEAR FRIENDS,

We are proud to report that in 2022 we continued to build on our momentum with immediate successes and an exciting vision for the future. As we drew even more guests and expanded conservation and learning programs, we also took a major step forward in creating the world-class aquarium Tampa Bay deserves by unveiling our largest capital expansion project in 28 years.

Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our staff, volunteers and Board, bolstered by the encouragement and support from our guests, donors and community, we continued to break records, achieve scientific firsts and provide the very best animal care. Some highlights:

• We set another attendance record in in 2022, welcoming nearly 925,000 guests.

• We announced a $40-million capital project, the first major expansion to include new animal habitats since the Aquarium opened in 1995.

• We continued to chart our path toward net zero carbon emissions and conducted our first greenhouse emissions inventory.

• Our education programs grew in areas including camps, sleepovers and community outreach.

• We launched a new underwater experience, SeaTREK, which breaks down barriers and stereotypes and allows more people to venture underwater, many for the very first time.

• Six new African penguins arrived.

These are just a few of this year’s highlights. Read on for an enjoyable review as we reached new heights and announced an ambitious vision for an even brighter future.

Roger Germann Kimberly Bruce President and CEO Chair of the Board of Directors

OUR CHAMPIONS

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

RECORDSETTING MEMBERSHIP

Experienced a record–setting year in Membership with revenue generation of $2.6 million and an increase in the number of member households to over 6,000.

$40M CAPITAL EXPANSION

EDUCATION PROGRAM GROWTH

Announced a $40-million capital expansion project that includes the addition of a rotating special exhibit gallery, a two-story, multidimensional habitat that will feature puffins and a large-scale outdoor pavilion for California sea lions and expanded African penguin habitats.

SeaTREK WALKING TOUR

Launched SeaTREK, an underwater guided walking tour, with the goal of breaking down personal and cultural barriers to provide a positive in-water experience that inspires conservation of our natural world.

900,000 AQUARIUM GUESTS

The return and subsequent growth of various educational programs including camps, birthday parties, sleepovers, entertainment programs and community outreach.

FOOD & CATERING PARTNERSHIP WITH SSA GROUP

Welcomed over 900,000 guests during the 2022 fiscal year; making it one of the most attended in the Aquarium’s 27year history. (Attendance exceeded 925,000 during the calendar year).

NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY

2035

Partnered with the nationally recognized SSA Group to transform its food service and catering operations, to deliver on its mission of sustainability including high quality, healthy and sustainably sourced menu items and other eco-friendly implementations.

NEW AFRICAN PENGUINS

Welcomed six (6) new African penguins to The Florida Aquarium.

REPLENISH A THREATENED SPECIES

Conducted our first annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory and plotted our pathway to net zero carbon emissions by 2035.

Successfully induced spawning of Elkhorn coral, a threatened species, in a controlled environment for the first time anywhere in hopes of helping replenish the critical species on Florida’s Coral Reef.

PROUD TO BE CHAMPIONS FOR MARINE LIFE

For those of us at The Florida Aquarium, 2022 marked a year of re-emergence and renewed energy; once again allowing us to proudly create and deliver programs in marine conservation, exhibition, education and entertainment. We remain, as always, dedicated to our goal of inspiring and nurturing a mutually beneficial connection between marine life and human life.

Of course, none of our efforts would be possible without our true champions, the hardworking staff and volunteers that join forces to keep moving The Florida Aquarium forward - whether on the front lines or behind the scenes.

A GROWING WORKFORCE

Recruitment and retention are always an ongoing effort, as we strive to employ an engaged and motivated workforce who bring the very highest levels of innovation, scientific knowledge, energy and enthusiasm when interacting with our various audiences: from visitors to academia to donors and community.

We are pleased to report that, at the end of FY22, employee numbers grew by 21% yearover-year with a workforce of 312 team members in total. In addition, our efforts to bolster diversity and inclusion also bore fruit, with underrepresented groups comprising 19% of our workforce, a two percent increase over the previous year.

While many organizations throughout Florida and the country suffered from staffing shortages and other labor challenges, we ensured that our engagement and retention initiatives met the moment. Team member wellbeing, compensation and benefits remained a top priority in FY22.

In July, we raised the Aquarium’s minimum wage from $12 to $14 per hour and increased all other wages to market or above. We continued to offer top-tier health and wellness coverage, while containing costs and avoiding the need to increase employee premiums. Finally, continued education efforts and the promotion of our retirement plan led to an increase of 13% plan participation, year-over-year.

RACE/ETHNICITY PERCENTAGE

NEW ROLE, SVP OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

In July, Tony Rokita joined The Florida Aquarium leadership as the Senior Vice President of Community Engagement & Social Responsibility. In this newly appointed position, Rokita will have a keen focus on social justice issues and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives with both employees and volunteers while also engaging local underserved communities through meaningful partnerships.

Rokita comes to the Aquarium following a three-decade career with the Chicago Bulls NBA franchise where he had a similar role.

CELEBRATING OUR VOLUNTEERS

Over the past year, we were able to attract and engage 657 individuals from all walks of life, who serve across the entire organization from animal care and health to conservation to guest engagement, development and more. Over the course of FY22, these dedicated volunteers combined to donate 37,366 hours.

As a testament to our success in this area, Melissa Dude, our Volunteer Services Manager, was recognized as a thought leader; representing the Aquarium at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Annual Conference. Melissa presented on best practices for volunteer program recruitment and diversity.

As a time-honored tradition, we hosted our Volunteer Service Appreciation Dinner, this year on May 1. Patrick McGirk was recognized during the event as Volunteer of the Year. A four-year volunteer and former teacher, Patrick is instrumental in our coral conservation program, especially in the protection of mountainous star coral. As one of many contributions, he developed a simple tent of bamboo skewers, designed to protect newly outplanted coral from predation.

While Patrick’s story is indeed impressive, he is but one of a cadre of exemplary individuals who give back to the community by donating their time and talents to our organization. Having become a certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), a national service award honoring those whose service positively impacts their community, in FY22, The Florida Aquarium presented more than 45 Presidential Service Awards to our dedicated and deserving volunteers.

CHAMPIONS FOR CONSERVATION

Our commitment to preserving and protecting wildlife and wild places through conservation has been a core focus since the founding of The Florida Aquarium.

In order to make the most significant impact on the health of our environment, we strategically select conservation initiatives that amplify our expertise, engage the entire staff, leverage our partnerships and maximize our ability to advance our four Conservation Priorities: Safeguarding Imperiled Wildlife, Generating Healthy Habitats, Advancing Sustainable Business Operations and Reduction of Single-Use Plastic Consumption and Pollution.

Government affairs were also a focal point, with Conservation staff attending two congressional events on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and lending our signature and support to 16 conservation-related policy letters.

Sexual Reproduction of Corals

Florida’s Coral Reef is dying off at an alarming rate due to a wide range of threats: increased water temperature and acidification from climate change, disease such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss, as well as pollution, overfishing, invasive species and water quality degradation.

As the nation’s largest coral reproduction facility, we have a direct and significant impact on reef restoration efforts. We acquired 46 new coral broodstock to help bolster our existing reproduction efforts. Scientists at The Florida Aquarium have now spawned 13 coral species in our labs, providing partners with over 2 million genetically diverse coral larvae and 3,500 corals in a unified restoration effort. We have settled over 100,000 corals in-house and outplanted over 4,500 corals onto the reef.

Sexual Reproduction of Sea Urchins

In a significant achievement for reef restoration, researchers at The Florida Aquarium, University of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission successfully reared and released nearly 200 long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) onto test reefs in the Florida Keys in December 2021. This is the first time urchins reared at The Florida Aquarium were released back into the wild! These urchins provide a vital service to marine life by feeding on fleshy algae, whose growth is fueled by pollution and whose proliferation can suffocate healthy coral reefs.

Considered one of the largest restocking efforts in the last 20 years, one of the goals of this project is to learn more about how to successfully transport, outplant and monitor transplanted sea urchins.

Patrick’s Parrotfish Protectors

Using simple bamboo barbecue skewers affixed to ceramic tiles, long-time Aquarium volunteer and former teacher Patrick McGirk developed a coral protection device to keep parrotfish from harming baby corals outplanted during reef restoration.

Known as “Patrick’s Parrotfish Protectors,” (PPP’s), they have proved easy to build on land and fast to

deploy underwater and are remarkably effective at protecting juvenile coral from parrotfish, whose bite can scar or even kill young, vulnerable corals. The ultimate function of the PPP is to provide a harmless deterrent that discourages the fish from biting and will biodegrade over time.

Early results from studies in southeast Florida waters comparing the effectiveness of bamboo stake protection show that 58% of the corals outfitted with the pre-installed PPPs were completely healthy with no evidence of predation as compared to 13% of the unprotected coral and 18% of those with skewers installed at time of outplant. In addition, the amount of fragments that went missing was twice as high for corals with no protection (52%) compared to corals that had stakes installed (<30%).

Florida Reef Tract Rescue Program

At a reef site near Long Key, Aquarium divers established a grid for outplanting 560 juvenile corals including four different species: boulder brain (Colpophyllia natans), grooved brain (Diploria labyrinthiformis), symmetrical brain (Pseudodiploria strigosa) and spiny flower (Mussa angulosa). All were bred and reared at The Florida Aquarium from parent colonies collected as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project.

The goal of this outplant is not only to support coral restoration efforts in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary but also to determine whether planting closely related coral offspring grown in a land-based, lab setting in close proximity to one another will be helpful or harmful to their survival and growth.

SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Our Sea Turtle Conservation Program recovered seven (7) sea turtles, received 14 rescued sea turtles, conducted three (3) deep-dive trials with sea turtles from partner facilities, satellite-tagged four (4) rehabilitated sea turtles and began assisting with health assessments of green sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

Record-Setting Turtle Admission Day

On March 2, a record was set when the team at The Florida Aquarium admitted 17 rescued turtles, the largest number the facility has ever received. With a growing reputation, we have been asked to respond to sea turtle stranding and recovery reports more often. With a grant from Sea Turtle Conservancy, a rescue response van was purchased to further enhance the program.

Cersci’s Return to the Sea

The last green sea turtle patient from the ‘20-’21 cold stun season overcame the odds to be released in March. In addition to pneumonia, the turtle – given the moniker Cersci – was treated for osteomyelitis, a bone infection, in both shoulders. With specialized care from our animal care and health teams, the bone loss was stabilized, allowing her return to the ocean.

Satellite Tracking Grant

The Florida Aquarium’s Debborah Luke, PhD, Sr. Vice President of Conservation, and Ashley Riese, Manager, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, were awarded funding for their study, “Using Satellite Telemetry to Assess Movement and Behavioral Patterns of Cold Stunned Sea Turtles that Strand in New England and are Released off Florida’s East Coast” by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), with support from the Disney Conservation Fund.

The AZA Conservation Grants Fund is a competitive grants program that supports the cooperative conservation-related scientific and educational initiatives of AZA members and their partners. Major areas of funding for conservation and animal care are represented, including research, field conservation, education and outreach, animal welfare, animal health and animal management.

Post-Release Turtle Tracking: Palmer + More

Palmer is a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle who was transported to our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center from a cold stunning event in Cape Cod Bay. After months of care, Palmer was cleared for release and was reintroduced into open ocean waters on April 21. On his back was a new accessory: a satellite-tracking tag funded by partners from the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Conservation Grants Fund (CGF).

These tags transmit critically important information about turtle behavior post-release while recording environmental data such as water temperatures. Data received provide key insights for future rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

AFRICAN PENGUIN CONSERVATION

With safeguarding imperiled wildlife as a priority, The Florida Aquarium continues to expand its role in African penguin conservation. Senior Vice President of Conservation, Debborah Luke, PhD attended an African penguin conservation meeting in Namibia, South Africa and is exploring ways The Florida Aquarium can make a meaningful impact in the conservation of this critically endangered species. We also donated two veterinary tables to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS & OPERATIONS PLAN

Our Blue Team completed the second year of our Sustainable Business & Operations Plan, having realized significant progress in becoming single-use plastic bottle free by 2023 and operating as a zero-waste facility by 2030. We conducted our first annual inventory of Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emissions and plotted our pathway to net zero carbon emissions by 2035.

REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION

The entire Aquarium staff participated in our Conservation Days of Action, during which more than two (2) tons of debris was collected from our community. This was also our first year of participation in the global eco-initiative known as the Plastic-Free July Challenge. Our team, inclusive of 147 people (staff, volunteers and community members), earned approximately 36,000 points and placed 7 out of 310 teams nationwide. Not bad for our first year!

In addition, we also collected 5,308 pounds of debris throughout the course of FY22, as part of our efforts to reduce pollution.

CHAMPIONING OUR GUEST EXPERIENCE

Regarded as one of the premier aquariums in the U.S., The Florida Aquarium welcomes guests from Florida, the U.S. and around the world to experience a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals. Through an exemplary guest experience, we strive to build awareness, nurture understanding and foster compassion in fulfillment of our mission to inspire conservation action.

With a focus on the future, The Florida Aquarium partnered with international visitor experience-focused strategy and research company, A Different View, to undergo a guest experience audit. Results were presented in the fall and findings are currently under review. Data collected included visitors’ observations, timing and tracking, post-visit surveys and analyses of capacities and flow.

PENGUIN HABITAT OPENS

Working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) through the Species Survival Plan (SSP), The Florida Aquarium welcomed six (6) new African penguins to our colony in January of 2022; helping to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically stable population for the long-term future of the species. After a safe and successful acclimation, the penguins were introduced to a new outdoor habitat on Saturday, March 12, much to the delight of our guests.

With the location of the new habitat in the Aquarium’s outdoor plaza, for the first time in many years, guests have the opportunity to engage with penguins during each visit. The opening of the habitat also signified the next step in our efforts to help save the species from extinction.

RAPTORS!

In June, “Raptors!” debuted. The interactive, educational experience featured birds of prey from around the world. Visitors enjoyed watching the different species perform feats of flight as guests learned more about the critical role these birds play in their ecosystems.

SEATREK

In July, the Aquarium introduced SeaTREK, a helmet diving experience designed for swimmers and non-swimmers alike from age 10 and above. During underwater walking tour, guests explore coral caves alongside a variety of marine life; allowing for extraordinary fun and discovery.

Taking place in the Aquarium’s 100,000-gallon Heart of the Sea habitat, SeaTREK provides a safe and controlled environment for a rewarding and transformative experience.

The Florida Aquarium also introduced a community outreach program for children and families from underserved populations. This SeaTREK experience strives to evoke the wonders of the ocean while ensuring an inclusive and accessible future.

CHAMPIONS FOR LEARNING

At The Florida Aquarium, we are committed to providing learning experiences that foster understanding, appreciation and empathy for aquatic life in the Florida region and beyond. Throughout 2022, we continued to provide educational programs that help people of all ages to discover their connection to the natural environment and to become passionate guardians of our blue planet. As Champions for Marine Life, we tirelessly work to educate, entertain and inspire a new generation of environmental stewards.

CAMPS

The Aquarium’s popular camp programs were highly sought after during the 2022 season. Our School Year Camps took place throughout the year on days Hillsborough County Public Schools were out of session and served 186 campers while Summer Camp served 1,147 campers with an additional 722 on the waitlist. After a two-year hiatus, Travel Camps for grades four through eight made a comeback, while grant-funded camps for underserved and underrepresented youth provided an additional 43 campers with a fun and educational experience, at no cost to participants.

TEACHER WORKSHOPS

Teacher Workshops continued their popularity throughout the year. Educators came together to experience in-person learning opportunities before returning to their own classrooms to share newfound knowledge and their enthusiasm with students. Notable programs included:

• A research vessel expedition into the Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Weatherbird II

• High school marine science teacher workshop in partnership with Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Hillsborough County Schools

• Tackling Threats to Tampa Bay, made possible by a Bay Mini-Grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program

• From Drops to Drink: Protecting Tampa Bay’s Drinking Water workshops with funding from Tampa Bay Water

SPY TAMPA BAY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

The new iSpy pilot program for pre-Kindergarten students launched in January. Working with the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, ZooTampa and Glazer Children’s Museum, iSpy provides low-income families with free access and educational opportunities at the Aquarium, Zoo and Museum. The goal is to prepare young children for kindergarten in the short-term and a lifetime of learning to follow. This year, 219 families visited the Aquarium, totaling 1,310 in attendance.

FAMILY STEM NIGHT

In collaboration with partners for Navy Week, Dowdell Middle Magnet School participated in a Family STEM Night at the Aquarium on March 28. As part of our commitment to reach diverse audiences, the event was offered for the Title I school at no cost to participants with funding support from the Tampa Bay STEM Network.

MISSION: TAMPA BAY

In partnership with Tampa Bay STEM Network, the STEMCamp returned with a five-day program in June aimed at empowering middle school girls to envision themselves as budding STEM leaders. Through activities held at the Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Hillsborough County students enjoyed their roles as junior engineers – planning investigations and expeditions and piloting underwater ROVs.

EVENING TIDE TALKS RETURN

The Evening Tide Talks lecture series presented by Wells Fargo relaunched February 16, after a two-year hiatus. These free-to-the-public talks were held once a month between February and June and were well received and well attended. Featured speakers included notable authors, community leaders and members of The Florida Aquarium conservation team. The programs were recorded by Tampa Bay Arts and Education Network for online viewing to expand the program’s reach.

GULF OF MEXICO ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP (GOMA)

The Aquarium entered into a $100,000 four-year partnership with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) partnership to support the Governor’s Action Plan for Healthy & Resilient Coasts. With classroom and hands-on training for students from elementary through high school grades, the program supports the goals of our Marine Debris focus area and empowers future generations of Floridians to become active environmental stewards of their local watershed.

CHAMPIONS IN ANIMAL CARE & HEALTH

At The Florida Aquarium, it is our duty to ensure the wellbeing of every animal entrusted to our care. From the highest standards of healthcare to the utmost in environmental conditions, our team works tirelessly so marine wildlife will thrive; whether The Florida Aquarium is their forever home or simply a temporary refuge for recovery.

In 2022, the Animal Care team focused on welcoming new species to increase diversity, enhance the guest experience and heighten guest engagement. By building deeper connections between the animals and the humans who come to visit them, The Florida Aquarium delivers on our mission to nurture a healthier bond between our community and nature.

A BRIEF, BUSY HIATUS

To more efficiently refresh and renew our facility and focus, the Aquarium closed to the public for five (5) days during one of our slowest months (January 24 - 28). Staff and contractors worked collaboratively to tackle small and large projects, including significant maintenance to the Wetlands of Florida habitat.

The effort required a tremendous amount of planning and organizing by the Animal Care team to temporarily relocate a large number of animals within the facility while providing 24-hour watches for others. Once the habitat reopened, the team kept a watchful eye on all the animals involved to ensure their health and wellbeing.

WETLANDS OF FLORIDA

In addition to overseeing the animals and participating in the maintenance of the Wetlands of Florida overhaul, the Animal Care team introduced additional birds to the habitat, including a wood thrush, blue jay, Baltimore oriole, whistling ducks and more. This elevated the total number of birds to the highest level in more than a decade and increased species diversity.

NEW AFRICAN PENGUINS

The Florida Aquarium introduced six (6) new African penguins. Our Animal Care experts worked with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) through the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to identify the specific birds that could be integrated into our colony to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically stable population for the long-term future of this endangered species. A new outdoor African penguin habitat, which opened March 12, allows guests to see and engage with the penguins on every visit. For more information on the new habitat, see page 15.

FISH TALES

Other notable events for Animal Care included the opening of the false pilchard habitat. The rapid underwater movement of the new school of false pilchards in the color-changing environment quickly became a focal point of the Coral Reefs gallery. An additional 500 false pilchards were also added to the shallow side of the gallery, further delighting our guests.

A highlight for staff and guests alike was the addition of two (2) goliath groupers to the animal collection. This imposing and engaging species, missing from the Aquarium for a couple of years, has historically been one of the most iconic.

In April, more than 500 fish, comprising over 50 different species, were added to 14 habitats in five (5) galleries, including Journey to Madagascar, Wetlands of Florida, Shorelines, Coral Caves and Waves of Wonder.

ENGAGING EVENTS AND MORE

Raptors!: Debuted on Father’s Day weekend and featured birds of prey from around the world. The flighted exhibition took place three times daily on our scenic Rooftop Terrace and included a presentation about the various species’ natural history, adaptations, and protections.

SeaTREK: The Animal Care team played a pivotal role in the introduction of the SeaTREK program helping to develop the initial program, ensuring the wellbeing of the animals in habitat and helping to improve the guest experience through the early phases. For more about SeaTREK, see page 15.

FY22 was a year of welcome for the Animal Care team. We were able to bring interns back to study and collaborate for the first time since the pandemic, and we continued to add new species like scrawled filefish, scrawled and honeycomb cowfish, ruddy duck and little blue heron.

ANIMAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES

Animal Health was able to transition back to a preventative medicine orientation, with more than 25% of our work focused on routine prophylactic examinations. We resumed an annual examination and preventative medicine schedule, beginning with all cownose rays, a number of Learning’s ambassador animals and other ambassador birds, penguins and more.

Veterinary staff virtually attended the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference. Additionally, a training program was created for the Animal Care team to understand and assist the processes of the Animal Health team. All current full-time Animal Care staff have completed the training.

With an eye to the future, we partnered with University of Florida summer veterinary camp, “Gator Camp,” for high school students in underserved communities. This experience is key to exposing interested students to aquatic veterinary careers and to The Florida Aquarium.

FY22 ANIMAL HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS:

• A resident spoonbill underwent a cardiology consultation, ECG and echocardiogram

• Performed two (2) CT scans on a juvenile green sea turtle with life-threatening osteomyelitis

• Intake of four (4) loggerhead sea turtles from New England’s cold stun events for rehabilitative care

• Intake of 10 cold stunned green sea turtles from the east coast of Florida for treatment of critical illness including pneumonia

• Provided assistance in the move of sand tiger sharks onto habitat and performed diagnostics including weight assessment and body condition evaluations as well as required medical treatments

• Treated the chameleon for chronic hypovitaminosis A and successfully returned him to normal health; evidence that even the smallest animals in our care get the highest quality of care

• A female radiated tortoise went to University of Florida for a lifesaving ovariectomy surgery laparoscopically and then to BluePearl Pet Hospital for a cardiology consultation

• More than 3,000 corals underwent health certificate examinations, approving them for relocation or outplanting

• All cownose rays had their preventative annual examinations and males were successfully moved to Tropicana Field

• Diagnosed and created a novel treatment plan for the fatal reproductive disease in female southern stingrays

• Following a CT scan, another female radiated tortoise underwent ovariectomy surgery laparoscopically at University of Florida. Retained follicles were also removed. Both procedures helped to resolve a chronic recurrent disease which could have been life threatening without the swift intervention of the Animal Care health team

• After successful rehabilitation, nine (9) sea turtles were released back to the open ocean

• Completed quarantine on 2,152 animals throughout FY22

• Completed annual examinations on some charismatic animal ambassadors including two (2) ring-tailed lemurs, two (2) North American river otters, a bonnethead shark and two (2) goliath groupers

PROGRESS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY

At The Florida Aquarium our commitment to conservation, guest experience, learning, worldclass animal care and staff well-being is unwavering. Our purpose is made possible through the steadfast support of donors - from individuals and families to corporations and community organizations - who share our passion. With future growth a priority, in 2022 we collaborated with philanthropic consultants to conduct market analysis and program evaluation. The Development team instituted a series of staff, board member and donor interviews. This comprehensive audit helped us prioritize strategic initiatives and tactics to maximize fundraising going forward, including capital expansion projects. We also sought expert counsel to guide our direct marketing efforts and preliminary capital campaign collateral.

EVENTS

“Party with a Purpose,” a series of in-home events, was launched in 2022 with the goal to engage community leaders in a fun and personal way while introducing new friends to the Aquarium’s mission. The first event, hosted by Board member Veronica Cintron, was a resounding success, exceeding fundraising expectations.

In collaboration with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) through the Species Survival Plan (SPP), we expanded our colony of African penguins in January and celebrated their arrival with the donors whose generosity helped make the outdoor penguin habitat possible.

RECORD UNRESTRICTED REVENUE

Fiscal Year 2022 final fundraising results equaled $3,026,212 in revenue, exceeding budget expectations and making this the second consecutive year of record-breaking philanthropy; securing the largest sum of unrestricted annual revenue for The Florida Aquarium. Other fundraising milestones included:

• A 19% increase (over FY21) in individual fundraising with a total raised of $713,171

• Grants and Foundation revenue was also 128% over FY22 budgeted goal with revenue totaling $1,914,822

EXPANSION OF CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS

With the goal to increase corporate giving, we introduced the Corporate Connect program. The program was launched in Q4, with four (4) paid members. This program allows companies to provide unrestricted operating support with a variety of benefits annually based on membership level.

FY22 DONOR LIST

$250K+ Anonymous Association of Zoos & Aquariums CIBC US

City of Tampa

Daniel Doyle, Jr. & the Doyle Family

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners

$100K - 249,999

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

L.V. Thompson Family Foundation, Inc.

The Mosaic Company University of Miami

$25K-99,999

Bank of America Foundation

Beard Foundation, Inc.

Coca-Cola Florida Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Bette Crown

Nancy & Dave Iben

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Pepin Distributing Co.

The Spurlino Foundation

State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts

Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, Inc.

The John A. and Elizabeth F. Taylor Foundation, Inc.

Vinik Family Foundation

Lili Weinstein

$10K-24,999

ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment

Nikki & Leo Cannyn

Davis Islands Electric Vehicles

Family Animal Hospital

Macy’s

Tim & Brandon Manka-Clemons

Patsy & Eugene McNichols and the McNichols Company

PAR, Inc.

Amy Rowland

Suncoast Credit Union Foundation

The Fields Galley Private Foundation

The Saunders Foundation Verizon

Wells Fargo Foundation

$2,500-9,999

Ryan Barnett

Lora & David Bevirt

The Bivi Foundation

Tracey & Matthew Blair

Bob and Linda Blanchard Family Foundation

Bloomin’ Brands

Diana & Daniel Borasch

Charlotte Brittain

Kimberly Bruce & Michael Gratz

Doreen & Andrew Caudell

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation Donor Advised Fund

Veronica Cintron & Preston Rudie

Dianne & John Couris

Crystal Springs Preserve, Inc.

Da Rin Butz Charitable Foundation

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Lauren Fernandez/ Bank of Central Florida

Kimberly & Robert Floyd

Laura Zaremba & Roger Germann

Rosalie & Angel Gonzalez

Andrea Gonzmart Williams & Beau Williams/Aquatech Eco Consultants, LLC

Kristin & Daniel Greco

Jennifer & Marcus Greene

Thomas Hall & Ken Jewett

Heidi & Jody Haneke

Barbara & Anthony Henneke

Pam & Tom Hernandez

Kathy & Tyler Hill

Hill Ward Henderson

James Hillhouse

Dale Hoffman

Thomas A. & Mary S. James Foundation

Kilbourne Family FoundationEnvironment and Animal Welfare at the Community Foundation

Tampa Bay

Robin Lester

ME Wilson Company

Lisa & John Miller

Judy & Douglas Montgomery

Outback Bowl

Power Design, Inc.

Rotary Club of Tampa

Cherie & Harvey Schonbrun

Casey Shear

Lakshmi Shenoy & Ryan Jacobs

Christy & Frederick Shivel/ Durham Foundation

Stonehill

Tampa Bay Rays

TECO Energy, Inc

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

The Walmart Foundation

The Wood Family Foundation, Inc.

Carolyn & John Yodzis

Zenith Insurance Company

$500-2,499

Abbey & Christopher Ahern

Patti & Bill Alcorn

Cynthia Holloway & C. T. Alley

Amscot Financial, Inc.

An Anonymous Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Russell Argott

Bev & Ron Bailey

MaryAnn & Ronald Bailey

Bailey Family Foundation, Inc.

Aimée & Scott Becka

Mayumi & Sean Beckwith

Lynda Dilts-Benson &

Dalton Benson

Ann & Richard Biddle

Maureen Blackford

Teri & Harold Boyd

Doug and Lauren Brigman Family Foundation

Heather & Drew Brown

Edward Buckley & Emma Mauer

Mary & Vincent Cassidy

Cerner Charitable Foundation

Wendy & Larry Chamberlin

Christian Brothers Automotive

Cornelia & Richard Corbett

Kelly & Keith Curington

Brooke Baldwin & Raymond Cutro

Rebecca & Michael Daharsh

Natasha Duchannes

Elizabeth & John England

Debbie Sue & Paul Ferrari

Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

Kate & Jake Fisher

Stefanie & Charles Fletcher

Florida Sea Turtle License Plate Program

Heidi Goss

Amy Evancho & Erik Gunhus

Cynthia Gunn & Linda Jack

Julie Harahan & Jerry Copeland

Karen & Dean Harkey

Talbot Harris

Anne & Thomas Henderson

Penny & William Keadey

Lisa & Michael Kelly

Harvey Kennedy

Jennifer Lanning

Lindell Family Foundation at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Warren Lombardy

Gail P. & Howell Lykes

Marc Richard Miller Memorial Family Charitable Fund

Meredith Mcgough

Albert McKinney

Kevin McLoughlin

Jack McMullen

Mary & Brian McNulty

Stephanie & Alex Menke

Donna & Jim Miller

Brenda & Ken Mills

Robin Moch

Kimberly Morris

Lisann & John Morris

Becky & Kenneth Moser

Carly Ogletree

Matthew Palmtag

Parks Medical Electronics, Inc.

Jonathan Persky

POTC_Productions

Masumi Ishimine & Brian Prince

Ginevra & James Ralph

Renaissance Charitable

Nan Smith & Dan Rosenthal

Adajean Samson

Debbie & Brent Sembler

Kathleen Shanahan

Patricia & William Shepard

Sherloq Group, Inc.

Laura & Alden Sherman Donor Family Fund

Sierra Foundation, Inc.

Bernie Smith

Cathy & Bob Smith

Judith & Les Smout

Tammy & Kareem Spratling

Lila & Ralph Stair

Angela Stickler

Deborah & Kevin Stone

Lacey Stovall

Amy & Roger Swinford

Tampa Bay Estuary Program

The Charles Miranda Trust

The Manny and Ruthy Cohen Foundation

The Progressive Insurance Foundation

Maureen and Brian Butler/ The Vistra Cares Fund

Sally Thompson

Toast, Inc.

Linda & Stewart Turley

Christine & Tobin Turner

Queen Vo

Justin Warfield

Theresa Wasche

Becky & Sam Wax

Andrea Williams

Billie Jo & Charles Wilson

Mark Winders

Elizabeth Winegrad

Tara & Andrew Wood

FINANCIALS

HIGHEST ATTENDANCE SINCE OPENING YEAR - 20% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR

ANNUAL FUND GIVING AND OPERATING GRANTS EXCEEDED $3 MILLION FOR FIRST TIME

MEMBERSHIP REVENUE AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIP AT HIGHEST LEVELS

HIGHEST REVENUES EARNED

2ND PPP LOAN WAS FULLY FORGIVEN BY THE SBA