Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing so many children experience the wonder of the oceans for the first time during a visit to the Aquarium. I'm sure that you've experienced the same wonderful, eye-opening moment when your child, or grandchild, niece, or nephew, first saw a living seahorse or another fascinating animal in one of our exhibits. Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed by the threats facing the oceans today, I can just walk into the Aquarium and see children really connecting with ocean animals. Instantly, my spirits are lifted and my hopes renewed.

That powerful connection has been part of the Aquarium experience for 25 years now. As you may know, my parents, David and Lucile Packard, founded the Monterey Bay Aquarium because they were passionate about the natural world and wanted to inspire people of all ages to learn more. My father often commented that, "We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the oceans on our own planet Earth." Through the Aquarium, they intended to share the beauty and diversity of Monterey Bay with people throughout California and beyond.

We quickly realized that we could not simply exhibit the wildlife of Monterey Bay. We began to connect the scientific and environmental importance of the oceans to the conservation issues that determine their health—like the way we get our seafood and the effects of climate change. We know that people conserve what they love and our strategy has always been to develop exhibits that would inspire awe and curiosity in people of all ages.

This is especially true of young people who are more ready to act than adults. Research tells us that children are concerned about the environment and are leading their families in making changes in everyday habits to save the oceans.

Together, we have moved beyond being a world class aquarium to being a leader in conservation action on behalf of the oceans. Our wildlife conservation research in the field is driving policy change to protect the iconic species we all know and love. Our Seafood Watch program is inspiring change in how sustainable seafood purchasing is done and helping people act on their convictions about healthy seafood choices. And, our work with leading ocean scientists is helping bring science-driven solutions to the challenge of how we manage the oceans in the future, from marine protected areas to ocean-friendly aquaculture.

If my parents were here today, I know they'd be enormously grateful for how generous you've been in your support of the Aquarium. They would be absolutely delighted by how much we've been able to accomplish with your help.

Julie Packard
Executive Director