FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Cristina Rodriguez
Miami Seaquarium
(305) 365-2525
E-mail: crodriguez@msq.cc

Michelle Palomino / Jorge Martinez
The Conroy Martinez Group
Tel: 305-445-7550
Email: michelle@conroymartinez.com

DEPOSIT SPARE CHANGE AND HELP SAVE FLORIDA’S MANATEES

New Change 4 A Change campaign raises money to save manatees and offers $7.50 coupon to Miami Seaquarium

MIAMI, FL – December 15, 2009 – Animal lovers can participate in the manatee rescue and rehabilitation effort to save Florida’s manatees through Change 4 A Change, a new campaign to raise funds for the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership. Through the promotion, donations can be made to the rescue effort by depositing spare change at participating BankAtlantic locations. For every deposit made, a $7.50 off admission coupon to Miami Seaquarium will be offered. The promotion will kick off on January 1, 2010.

“Through the work of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership, Florida manatees have greater hope for survival,” commented Andrew Hertz, General Manager of Miami Seaquarium. “There is no doubt that the rescue and rehabilitation effort is very costly. We hope to raise significant funds through this campaign to help fund this program.”

Endangered Florida manatees face many threats in their daily lives: fishing line entanglement, boat strikes, cold stress, pollution and habitat degradation among them. Through collaborative rescues and rehabilitation efforts between rehabilitation facilities, state and federal agencies, injured manatees have hope of survival.

If a manatee is observed in distress or a dead manatee is sighted, contact the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC.

About The Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership

The Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership nurtures manatees and returns them to the wild where they are monitored by satellite. The partnership is a collaborative effort between non-profit, private, state, and federal entities with a stake in tracking the post-release fate of rehabilitated manatees in the wild.

The founding partners of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership are: Columbus Zoo, Disney Conservation Fund, EPCOT-Living Seas, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Lowry Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, Save the Manatee Club, SeaWorld Florida, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey’s Sirenia Project, and Wildlife Trust.

About BankAtlantic

BankAtlantic, Florida’s Most Convenient Bank is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Florida. Via its broad network of community branches, online banking division - BankAtlantic.com , and conveniently located ATMs, BankAtlantic provides a full line of personal, small business and commercial banking products and services. BankAtlantic is open 7 days a week with extended weekday hours, Free Online Banking & Bill Pay, a 7-Day Customer Service Center and Change Exchange coin counters.

About Miami Seaquarium

Miami Seaquarium, South Florida's most popular tourist attraction, is a family-oriented marine-life park open to the public 365 days a year provides visitors with a greater understanding and appreciation for marine life through shows, presentations and marine-life exhibits. Miami Seaquarium is located at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida.

Miami Seaquarium is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, an international organization committed to the care and conservation of marine mammals. Accreditation by the Alliance means this facility meets or exceeds all the standards of excellence for marine mammal care, husbandry, conservation and education.

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