GUMBO LIMBO COASTAL STEWARDS

Don't donate to this organization! They misrepresent what they are doing on their website and paperwork. The turtles were removed from Gumbo Limbo last April because Coastal Stewards had no license to provide rehabilitation to them yet they told newspapers and visitors that they would have the turtles back shortly. Since last April they have not obtained such a license from the Fish and Wildlife Commission yet they continue to suggest on their website that they are saving turtles. The turtles listed as being rehabilitated all were treated at Gumbo Limbo before they took over (read the dates of release). There is NO turtle rehabilitation medical care happening through them.

Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards, formerly Friends of Gumbo Limbo, is a S. Florida non-profit that has been educating the public about how to protect our precious coastline and its marine life. The city of Boca Raton has asked the nonprofit to take over the rehabilitation, rescue, research and release functions of its Center, and the non-profit has agreed to do so. As it awaits licensing which was previously held by city employees, its resident turtles are being well cared for at other area facilities. In the meantime, the non-profit continues to educate both children and adults and raise funds for its turtle program as well as the expanded education programs that it is offering now and will grow going forward. This is a committed non-profit that partners well with the City of Boca Raton. It is deserving of both our attention and our continued support.

I am a huge fan of this group. The work they are doing to curate a sustainable gift store provides me with the opportunity to support their mission. I don’t live local, so getting online and ordering from shopgumbolimbo.org helps me stay involved. Great professional staff that have endured a lot in pursuit of their mission. Their dedication comes through when you interact with them.

This small nonprofit is doing it's very best to continue to support the marine life and coastal environment in southeast Florida. They seem to be working hard to navigate working with the City of Boca Raton and deal with negativity and misinformation spread by former City employees. It's sad the sea turtles were the only one's suffering from the shutdown. The residents should be back soon, and the rehab will reopen soon as well.

Don't waste your money on these profiteers! It has been about 2 months since the sea turtle hospital was closed down due to the ineptitude of the Coastal Stewards (at least the few Board members that are left). The President of Coastal Stewards is paid in the range of $120,000 per year, how many donors earn that much?? Sadly, the Friends of Gumbo Limbo, Inc., the nonprofit that created the Gumbo Limbo Sea Turtle Hospital with an all volunteer Board and President has morphed into the Coastal Stewards with large paychecks going to their staff, not sea turtle rehab! They need to change their name to the Coastal Sewers for all the damage they have done to one of the best educational facilities in SE Florida!

This nonprofit is under new paid leadership- a big change from the past volunteer-run organization. They do not run the Center, but their write up may lead you to believe otherwise. There seems to be some uncertainty on their transparency and the accuracy of statements. Large staff turnover recently, including the Sea Turtle Vet of 10+ years due to concerns about the org. So sea turtle rehab has been shut down, lost their license and no written agreement is in place to bring it back. Just PR statements.

There are currently No Sea Turtles in the rehabilitation program. The Non Profit claims it is part of a planned transition, but the facts don't line up. There is no written plan, timeline, employee information, and the turtles were removed without warning. Not sure what the money is going towards.