Clearwater, FL, Dec. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Autumn Swank, 18 years old and with an inoperable brain tumor, met her inspirations Winter and Hope, the rescued dolphins from the Dolphin Tale movies at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). In her honor, CMA announced its Winter and Autumn’s Hope campaign. Now through national Make Your Dreams Come True Day (Jan. 13), and at other times throughout the year, for every Winter the dolphin plush sold, CMA will donate a Winter plush to this campaign. CMA also encourages people to mail in new or lightly used stuffed animals to CMA. All collected stuffed animals will be sent to the December 2018 Snowball Express event in Dallas to be distributed to Gold Star kids, the children of fallen U.S. military.
CMA was inspired by Autumn, who in 2009 was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor. She has spent the past eight years fighting for her life. She continues to deal with stomach issues, and relies on a wheelchair, a ventilator and a permanent tracheotomy. Throughout her health struggles, she has remained selfless and has collected thousands of stuffed animals for children in need, the majority being for children of fallen soldiers attending Gold Star’s Snowball Express event.
CMA surprised Autumn with the campaign kick-off and the opportunity to meet the rescued dolphins who inspired her through her difficult journey; Winter and Hope. Autumn was welcomed to the aquarium by a line-up of first responders, Wounded Warriors, Gold Star families, and CMA staff.
Click here to download video of the special event at Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Tuesday, Dec. 19. For more information on Winter and Autumn’s Hope campaign and how to donate, visit: https://www.seewinter.com/autumn/
For further information, contact Julia Anderson at janderson@cmaquarium.org or 727-686-3499.
About Clearwater Marine Aquarium:
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks and more. Winter the dolphin’s story of survival, after an injury that caused her to lose her tail, has impacted millions of people around the world. A major motion picture, Dolphin Tale, highlighted her life story in 2011. The sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, was released in September 2014 and features the incredible story of Hope, a young resident dolphin of CMA. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.
WE BELIEVE in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life, environmental education, research and conservation.
249 Windward Passage | Clearwater, FL 33767 | 727.441.1790 | SeeWinter.com
A Florida non-profit 501(c)(3)
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Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c117f1b4-3fac-46b2-9da1-0da3285d23ba
Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85944af4-0fb2-462f-b88a-e97719220f8e