Year-End Fundraising Campaign Launches on Black Friday
November 29, 2024 – Blue Hill, Maine – The Shaw Institute, a nonprofit science research organization, has released its 2024 Impact Report, the first such report of its kind for them, marking the official launch of its year-end fundraising campaign.
The Institute has experienced an unprecedented rate of growth over the past year, and has ambitious plans for 2025 to expand their facilities, capabilities and its ability to provide local communities with an invaluable learning resource.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, but the results have been rewarding,” says Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist of the Shaw Institute. “Our Impact Report represents the tremendous efforts my team made this past year to elevate our science research while increasing our community efforts.”
Some of the highlights of what the Institute has accomplished this year include:
- Entered into a lease-to-own agreement on a new building in Blue Hill, where its new research equipment will now be located .
- Purchased two very powerful pieces of lab equipment that greatly increased its ability to explore the effects of contaminations such as plastic and harmful chemicals on human and environmental health.
- Installed a brand new touch tank in its existing facility in downtown Blue Hill, providing its community with an invaluable education opportunity.
- Began the process of redesigning our downtown facility into an environmental education center, which is due to launch in 2025.
- Awarded a grant that allowed for the testing of drinking water in Blue Hill, Maine for PFAS chemicals, from 128 wells of our community members.
- Ran over 200 tests that measured for harmful bacteria levels in local coastal areas frequented by swimmers, producing a weekly report throughout the summer.
- Partnered with NYU, Harvard and ASU on important studies that will end up providing essential insights into how human health is impacted by plastic contamination.
- Continued producing groundbreaking research that was covered by such media outlets as the Washington Post, New York Post, Bloomberg and more.
There’s far more achievements that have been reached in 2024, so be sure to download the Impact Report to fully understand what the Shaw Institute has accomplished and where it intends to go in 2025 and beyond.
“I’m so proud of the amount of time and energy we’ve put into making the Shaw Institute a critical part of both the global scientific community and our local communities here in Maine,” said Rolsky. “The Impact Report helps demonstrate the new trajectory we’re on as an Institute. We want to be a leader within scientific circles, but also a year-long part of our Blue Hill community that brings more visitors to the region and provides the type of science learning environment that Maine deserves”
The annual year-end fundraising campaign, which officially kicks off today, on Black Friday, is always essential for the Institute to achieve its goals and mission. That’s never been more true, as 2025 will only see an increase in the team’s ambition and passion for taking the Shaw Institute to a higher level.
To download the 2024 Impact Report, please click HERE. To donate to the Shaw Institute, please click HERE. To learn more about the Shaw Institute, please visit https://shawinstittue.org.
About Shaw Institute
Shaw Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific research organization based in Blue Hill, Maine. Established nearly 35 years ago, the Institute’s mission is to work to discover and expose environmental threats to the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environments we share. Our research on plastics, ocean pollution, marine mammal health, toxic chemicals, and climate change has informed public opinion and influenced public policy, impacting millions of people in Maine, the U.S. and worldwide.
CONTACT:
Tod Hardin
Head of Marketing & Communications
Shaw Institute
(408) 656-3570
thardin@shawinstitute.org
