My Nonprofit Reviews

Save the Whales (STW) has been very supportive of the Butterfly Garden in Del Rey Oaks, CA. At our pre-pandemic workday, STW arrived with a team of eager volunteers. Each were passionate to advance outreach for Integrated Pest Management and Pollution Prevention by demonstrating weed control using sheet cardboard methods, with recycled chip mulch overlay, planting native pollinator-friendly species, and erecting a barn owl box. STW’s volunteer efforts made a real difference and impact. Their staff also helped facilitate and implement Stormwater Pollution Prevention grant objectives by researching and obtaining native pollinator plants for the Butterfly Garden. Sustainable Del Rey Oaks is very grateful for STWs support and their education efforts to prevent pesticides from entering our creeks, rivers, and the ocean.

Karen Harris
Chair, Sustainable Del Rey Oaks

Save The Whales (STW) is like no other. Their impact is phenomenal, both locally and globally. Co-founders Maris Sidenstecker I & II have dedicated their lives for marine mammals and the oceans in general. They are inspirations on how each of us can make a positive impact. Whether stenciling stormdrains, litter assessments, Low Impact Development Workshops, Green Gardening outreach in stores, to community exhibits and surveys, school presentations, and radio, TV, print, and online ads, they do it all, and masterfully.

STW seamlessly collaborates with other like-minded entities and non-profits to magnify their messages and stretch funds. Their extensive connections are put to good use with local municipalities, politicians, media personalities, environmental superstars such as Jane Goodall. STW works with many municipalities in the Monterey Bay to conduct stormwater outreach and education. STW has been recognized for their many accomplishments by various cities, most recently, The City of Greenfield for helping to save the Vaquita porpoise from extinction.

STW was honored to receive $8,000 from an elementary school student in Texas who was bullied when she turned the focus from being a target of bullying into a fund-raiser for STW. Her inspiration allowed STW to purchase a full-size humpback whale inflatable replica. This whale named, "Dee", is 43' long - people can enter her to view her organs! This has been an amazing outreach tool to inspire personal responsibility to save whales and our oceans in general. Humpbacks are the anti-bullies of the seas by fending off orcas from other marine mammals and fish such as Mola molas.

Working side-by-side STW for over 10 years has been a privilege. I can't say enough in this format to substantiate this fact. Maris is the real deal. Her heart, soul and being are "all In" saving whales and our planet. I'm with her. Hope you are too.

Save The Whales provides so much for our Monterey Bay Region from quality environmental classroom education to hands-on community exhibits, storm drain stenciling, point of sale info brochures for sustainable gardening, and all while collaboring with the community. The organization effectively magnifies its outreach by partnering with many local schools, universities, other environmental non-profits, and government organizations. It's amazing the work Save The Whales does for whales globally, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and community watersheds in the Monterey Bay region.