Local J. McLaughlin stores to host Sip & Shop benefiting Mote
Local J. McLaughlin stores and Mote Marine Laboratory invite you to save the ocean in style with a Sip and Shop event on Nov. 24.
There are many ways to support Mote and now shopping is one of them. J. McLaughlin stores in Boca Grande, Sarasota, Longboat Key and Tampa will donate 15 percent of their proceeds on Nov. 24 to support Mote's mission of today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans.
“Supporting nonprofits like Mote is a company passion that was weaved into J.McLaughlin’s company culture from the beginning,” shared Caroline Farrington, store manager of J. McLaughlin Boca Grande. “I believe our co-founder, Kevin McLaughlin, said it best. We are fortunate to be in many great towns throughout the country and with this fortune we have the responsibility to support local communities when we can.”
The donations from J. Mclaughlin’s Boca Grande store will be matched by an anonymous donor challenge to expand Mote scientists’ red tide-related research and outreach efforts in Boca Grande. Mote’s President & CEO, Dr. Michael P. Crosby, announced this match challenge in early 2017.
“We are grateful for this generous charitable investment and we are excited to move Mote’s red tide research efforts to the next level,” Crosby said. “We expect that a successful match to this challenge grant will significantly advance Mote’s innovative red tide research, monitoring and mitigation program in Boca Grande while directly engaging and benefiting the residents of this community."
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) – such as Florida red tides caused by Karenia brevis algae – can deter tourists, kill fish, close shellfish harvest areas and cause beachgoers to cough and sneeze due to airborne toxins.
Today, HABs such as K. brevis red tide in the marine waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast, brown tides of Aureoumbra lagunensis algae like those in the Indian River Lagoon, and blue-green algae blooms such as those in central Florida’s freshwater systems are the focus of successful and emerging research initiatives at Mote.
For information regarding the J. McLaughlin sip & shop event visit this link.
If you are not able to attend, you can still support Mote by visiting mote.org/support.