Page 60 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2023

GIVING BACK
story and photos courtesy of
Mississippi Aquarium
Mississippi Aquarium (MSAQ) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to education, community and conservation. As a non-profit, Mississippi Aquarium raises funds to support their mission and bring awareness to aquatic education and conservation locally and globally.
One of the newest aquariums in the country, Mississippi Aquarium opened in August 2020 and has welcomed nearly 800,000 visitors so far. The six-acre complex incorporates both indoor and outdoor habitats with more than 200 species of animals and 50 species of native plants.
The most recent expansion to Mississippi Aquarium, Changing Tides, boasts another 7,000 square feet of indoor exhibition space housing more than 130 new species throughout three biomes. Kelp Forest, Amazon, and Coral Reef showcase a diverse group of residents including a two-toed sloth, seahorses, and clownfish.
In 2024, Mississippi Aquarium is raising funds with the focus of giving their colony of African Penguins a permanent home on campus in a special interactive habitat, with the help of the community.
Mississippi Aquarium does not receive direct support from the state or city. They rely on help from their wonderful members, donors and guests to continue the aquatic education and conservation programs of the aquarium.
Mississippi Aquarium is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on ways to support MSAQ, please visit www.msaquarium.org.
Penguin Encounter.
Coral Tunnel.
Ways to Support MSAQ
What Your Dollar Does
$20 – Supplies for one school group visit
$50 – 1 bottle of shark and ray vitamins
$100 – 1 meal for Axl, Archer, Nigel and Fin, our dolphins
$250 – 6 months of heartworm preventative for the otters
$500 – Rehab a sea turtle – MSAQ has rehabbed over 70 to date
Visit
Donate
Volunteer
Adopt an Animal Kit Annual Fund
Penguin Campaign Animal Enrichment Bequests
Naming Opportunities
Bacot Foundation of South Mississippi
Together We Are Making a Difference
www.bacotfoundation.org
60 | December 2023
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living