My Nonprofit Reviews

I have had the privilege of serving as an intern at Save the Whales for two and a half years. It has been an honor to be involved with an organization that touches the lives of so many, human and non-human. I have never met someone who does as much to help animals as Maris. She is an exemplary human being in that she is completely selfless and will stop at nothing to make the world a better place. She works tirelessly and is directly involved with every aspect of STW, whether it is doing administrative work, speaking in classrooms, or kneeling next to a storm drain to attach an emblem.

As an intern, I have been involved in many different projects and I am always amazed at how multifaceted STW proves to be. I have spoken in classrooms and at public outreach events such as Whalefest, participated in litter-cleanups, affixed emblems to storm drains, labeled non-toxic chemicals in Orchard Supply and Home Depot, collected and statistically analyzed public intercept surveys, and contacted local car washes to suggest a voucher program. One of the most touching experiences I've had with STW was hosting a field trip for South County schoolchildren, many of which had never been to the beach. As the children eagerly posed for a class photo, a pod of dolphins appeared in the background. It was as if nature was smiling in approval.

I can honestly say that Save the Whales has changed my life. I have learned humility, compassion, and respect for nature. I have learned that there really is no such thing as "one-time use" or "throwing away". Plastic does not just go "away". It persists in the environment and its effects can be devastating. Working with Save the Whales has also made me realize my passion for science education, and it is now my career goal to teach biology at a university.

Monterey Bay needs Save the Whales. Maris is the voice of marine organisms that cannot speak for themselves. She teaches children and adults alike to love animals and to protect them by changing destructive habits. She helps people make informed decisions about the products they use and teaches them how to reduce their carbon footprint. It has been an absolute honor working for Save the Whales, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this organization.