Today we're pleased to announce the completion of two major gifts, from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, that take us one step closer to turning the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 into nonprofit environmental center for the Bay. Photo Credit: http://www.staysf.com/March 17, 2009 – (NOVATO, CA) – This week the San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit, The Bay Institute, announced the completion of two major fundraising milestones that take it one step closer to realizing a dream that’s been in the works for years – turning San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 into a self-supporting, nonprofit center for science, education and conservation.
The Bay Institute secured major funding commitments from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. These commitments augment the generous gifts of individuals who, early on, recognized the importance of creating the only interpretive and science center dedicated exclusively to the San Francisco Bay. But the nonprofit still has a long way to go.
According to Executive Director Christina Swanson, The Bay Institute still needs additional support from one or several generous individuals to complete the purchase. And they must notify the current owner of intent to exercise their option to purchase the aquarium by March 31. This is an historic opportunity for The Bay Institute and the city of San Francisco. If The Bay Institute fails to complete the purchase, the landmark aquarium will remain a for-profit entity, rather than serve as a community center for education and research.
“Today we’re announcing the very long way we’ve come towards realizing our dream for the aquarium, but we may not be able to cross the finish line without a few more major gifts from our friends in the Bay Area,” says Swanson. “We hope that, in the next several weeks, one civic-minded individual will come forward with a leading gift to help us complete the purchase and secure the aquarium for future generations.”
Swanson and her team envision an aquarium that is a conservation center, classroom, meeting center, and laboratory on the Bay, filled with exhibits displaying aquatic life from the Bay and science about the West Coast’s more important estuary. In addition to the aquarium’s 600,000 visitors each year, the aquarium will host regular workshops for K-12 students, programs to educate science teachers, local environmental workshops for researchers and citizens, and more. The new, non-profit aquarium will be supported by revenue generated by tourists and local visitors and its profits re-dedicated to support Bay-related science, education and conservation programs.
“The aquarium has long been a tourist attraction,” says Swanson. “We want the aquarium to serve as a local center of knowledge, inspiration and action. It will be a landmark and endowment for the Bay and Bay Area communities, owned by locals, serving locals and visitors, and generating revenue to support conservation of this magnificent estuary.”
“Too many Bay Area residents drive over the Bay every day or view it from their windows without thinking about the rich ecosystems underneath the water. We want to open their eyes to the riches of the Bay and the importance of preserving this priceless asset.”
Several notable Bay Area residents, and organizations, have expressed support for the project. This list includes Mayor Gavin Newsom, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and Supervisor David Chiu.
The Aquarium of the Bay was first opened as the tourist attraction Underwater World in 1996. The venture was unprofitable and filed for bankruptcy in 1999. BNP Paribas bought and remodeled the aquarium, then sold it to San Francisco businessman Darius Anderson, who agreed to give The Bay Institute the option to buy the aquarium by 2009.
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