Nine year old raises $750 for animal conservation
Monday, August 9, 2021
On Thursday, July 1, 2021, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium welcomed a special guest who shares our passion for animal conservation. Lilly, at only nine years old, was inspired to start a fundraiser after learning about endangered animals in her third grade class.
Since Lilly is too young to volunteer at the Aquarium, her family helped her figure out another way to support endangered species. Lilly decided to host a garage sale with a goal of raising $500.
In preparing for her garage sale, Lilly asked for lightly used donated items from friends and family. She also drew pictures of some of her favorite endangered species that can be found at the Aquarium.
Lilly’s Conservation Project garage sale met and exceeded Lilly’s $500 goal. The Aquarium was honored to receive a check for $750. This gift will directly support the Aquarium’s conservation programs such as Coral Rescue and animals participating in Species Survival Plan programs. Lilly also presented her drawings to CEO and Founder, Brent Andersen, before enjoying a behind the scenes look at some of the habitats and systems used to care for our animals.
The Aquarium is home to more than 4,000 animals representing 550 species, many of which are considered endangered or vulnerable. We are grateful for and inspired by Lilly’s passion for helping wildlife and endangered species. Lilly is a perfect example of why the Aquarium’s mission is to inspire people to Explore, Discover, and Learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. We believe in the potential for young people like Lilly to make a difference and help protect our Living Planet.