2020 THE YEAR IN REVIEW ANNUAL REPORT With the support of 20,000 active members and volunteers, Heal the Bay is the most recognized environmental nonprofit group in LA for a reason: we have been keeping California's coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for people and marine life since 1985. Using science, advocacy, community action, and education, we raise awareness and make progress with practical solutions to often complex problems. We conduct hundreds of beach and community cleanups each year, informing people about the root causes of pollution along the shorelines and in their neighborhoods. We advocate for strict water quality regulations that protect the health of both humans and the animals that call local creeks, rivers, and the Santa Monica Bay home. We operate the award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, inspiring visitors to become stewards for the region’s most important natural resource: clean water. We also educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, with more than 100,000 students joining us each year for school field trips, science-based classroom presentations, and community events.
1444 9th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (800) HEAL BAY [email protected] | healthebay.org | @healthebay We are here for good.
2020 was a year of hardship and heartbreak. resources to ensure our organization’s impact is I have felt the deep pain of the pandemic, the equitable for underserved communities. wildfires, and the unpredictable politics of this unprecedented year. The first weeks of 2021 saw This year, I saw our collective commitment. a brutal and racist attack on our nation’s Capitol Heal the Bay’s Coastal Cleanup Month and solo and an uncomfortable transition to a new cleanups mobilized thousands of volunteers to administration. But now, I am seeing something pick up 75,000 pieces of trash from their favorite else: I see progress. I see change. I see a new outdoor places. Our team conducted the first future ahead of us. large-scale e ort to track PPE litter in the environment. We connected and empowered During these stressful times Heal the Bay worked 5,000 youth and two million individuals and di erently, and harder than ever, to protect clean families through science, education, community water in LA. Our Heal the Bay Aquarium action, and advocacy. Heal the Bay is amplifying temporarily closed its doors and our big beach the anti-pollution message far and wide. cleanups were put on hold until we can safely gather again, but our work did not stop. The power of water continues to inspire change! We feel energized for what’s ahead. 2021 will not This year, the momentum shifted on plastic be business as usual. There is too much at stake. trash. More and more people want to rid our Now is our chance to take bold action for present environment of this toxic scourge. As a result, we and future generations. Amidst all the challenges, secured more than 800,000 signatures to put a you can trust that Heal the Bay is here for good. major plastics reduction initiative on the 2022 California Ballot. A robust statewide policy is the logical next step after a patchwork of bans on plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam have already been implemented. Heal the Bay is pushing for the most comprehensive approach that replaces single-use disposable plastics with sustainable options.
This year, activists put the spotlight on environmental justice. Oil drilling in neighborhoods, polluted water, lack of open space, and many other systemic injustices are being called out for their racist underpinnings. A powerful movement is Shelley Luce underway. Heal the Bay is investing more President and CEO @drshelleyluce Restore The robust restoration plan to bring back Ballona Wetlands, and its animal and plant inhabitants from further degradation and decline, was finally certified by the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife after a 17-year long process.
Reduce Thanks to 870,000 Californians who took action, the Plastics Free California initiative is on the 2022 Ballot. It will reduce plastic, hold Big Plastic financially responsible for pollution, and phase out Styrofoam takeout containers — if voters pass it.
Reconnect Our in-person events and school field trips were cancelled for most of 2020 due to COVID-19. We quickly pivoted to keep our community connected. Our team hosted 140+ hours of virtual programming and engaged 5,000 youth online.
Access Our beaches in Los Angeles should be accessible to everyone. Thanks to our partners at California Coastal Conservancy, we now have beach wheelchairs available to rent (for free) at Heal the Bay Aquarium near the Santa Monica Pier.
Protect After nearly two decades, the California State Water Board adopted Toxicity Provisions, providing an important back-stop to detect harmful conditions in wastewater caused by chemicals like pesticides, household chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Clean Our group cleanups were put on hold because of the pandemic, but Heal the Bay volunteers still safely removed 75,000 pieces of trash at solo cleanups in neighborhoods and beaches. We also conducted the first-ever local PPE (masks & gloves) waste study. We are dedicated to clean water in LA—from summit to sea.
Take Climate Action Protect Public Health Ban Single-use Plastics What we’re doing What we’re doing What we’re doing Demanding systemic change Protecting people and Uplifting a thriving culture of and advocating for ecosystem health through reusables and eliminating multi-benefit solutions that science-based education, harmful plastic pollution from build toward an equitable, outreach, and advocacy on our ocean and watersheds in sustainable, and contaminated water, fish, and order to defend the vibrancy climate-resilient future for all. sediment at our beaches, of our communities. rivers, and offshore. How we’re doing it How we’re doing it How we’re doing it The climate crisis must be Clean water and safe, The toxic legacy of plastic slowed, or communities will be accessible green space are production and waste impacts further impacted and much will fundamental for public health. our everyday life. Heal the Bay be lost. Nationally, we need to Heal the Bay pushes supports a ban on disposable quickly recover environmental government leaders to protect products that harm policy rollbacks to regain people at freshwater neighborhoods and wildlife ocean, river, and wetland recreation areas in LA with habitats. We advocate for protections, and protect water new public health legislation. legislation to reduce and ban resources by upholding the Our Beach Report Card with disposable plastics in the City Clean Water Act. Locally, we NowCast and River Report of Los Angeles, Los Angeles support nature-based solutions Card are expanding in reach County, and California. Our to protect communities from and scientific rigor. We hold immediate goal is to pass Skip sea level rise, erosion, and corporate polluters and public the Stu Ordinances locally in storm surges; champion the agencies accountable for DDT LA in 2021. Longer term, we clean up of stormwater dumping o our coast and are laying the groundwork for through multi-benefit green raise awareness about statewide legislation and a spaces; and demand an dangerous water 2022 ballot initiative: Plastics equitable transition to contamination across LA. Heal Free California. Heal the Bay renewable energy. Heal the the Bay Aquarium empowers Aquarium is inspiring advocacy Bay Aquarium focuses on students and families with by launching engaging new school field trips and public human health narratives in exhibits on pollution from the programs about climate watershed education full lifecycle of plastics, and education and action. curriculum and operations. educating about their connection to fossil fuels. We are so grateful for your generous contributions to Heal the Bay. January - December 2020
$50,000+ Environment Now Larry Walker Associates Pam & Steve Hirsh EY Laurie & Thomas McCarthy Sam Francis Foundation Anonymous FEKKAI Linda & Dennis Fenton Shore Hotel John Lyon Golden Road Brewing Linda Sue Bolt Stephen Charles Joseph Drown Foundation HBO Lionsgate The Los Angeles Kings Marjorie Post-Dye Trust Ian & Laurie Eddleston Mesdag Family Foundation The Natter Family Patagonia Isabel Snyder Metropolitan Water District Foundation Resources Legacy Fund Jack and Patti of Southern California The Sikand Foundation Foundation Schwellenbach Micol Bartolucci Theresa & David Dolotta S. Mark Taper Foundation Jan & David Altemus Oaktree Capital Thomson Reuters Tatiana Botton Jean & Stephen Kaplan Management, L.P. Tinder The David and Lucile Karen & Rafe Pery Ocean View Hotel Tom & Janet Unterman Packard Foundation Kari & John Boiler Opus Bank Tomas Fuller & William Water Foundation Luann & Bob Williams Pacific Life Foundation Kelly $25,000-$49,999 Madelyn & Bruce Glickfeld Richard Katz Verizon Foundation Matt & Kathleen Hart Robert Tanahashi Water Replenishment Cindy & Alan Horn Max Factor Family Sharon Lawrence District of Southern Albrecht Donor Advised Foundation SIMA Environmental Fund California Fund Mr. Westley Sony Pictures West Basin Municipal Water Alice C. Tyler Perpetual Nancy & John Edwards Entertainment District Trust Paul & Mary Kay Stimpfl Stoller Family Trust Blue Shield of California Phantasos Foundation Tetra Tech Inc. $1,000 - $2,499 County of Los Angeles/ Rebecca & Michael Vest The Cynthia & George Andree Yvonne & Department of Public Riviera Country Club Mitchell Foundation Donald Smith Works Robert Kane The Eli and Edythe Broad Andrew Kronfeld Daniel A. Moeller Trust Santa Monica-Palisades Foundation Anonymous Edison International Lodge F&AM The Leland and Julia Scheu Apple Lane Foundation Garfield Foundation Sheila, Dave and Sherry Family Foundation April & Cash Levy Johnny Carson Foundation Gold Foundation The Lenart Art Education Barbara & Ed Dreyfus Jordan Corngold & Southern California Gas Foundation Barry Gribbon Susanna Blinko Company Whitney Green Brad Kesden K-SWISS Inc. The Boeing Company William Nye Bruce Tennant Marilyn Kay Lockhart The Hexberg Family $2,500-$4,999 Buzz Harris Northrop Grumman The James J. Colt Carol Lyons Corporation Foundation, Inc. Anonymous Charles Southey Ralph M. Parsons The Walt Disney Company Beach Point Capital Charlotte O say Foundation Foundation Management LP Corinne M. Martin Rockefeller Philanthropy Toyota Dealer Match Bel Air Bay Club Craig & Shannon Inouye Advisors Program Christy & Mike Lowe Craig Ring Subaru Virginia and Steven Pollack City of Santa Monica Daniel Gilman The Energy Coalition WarnerMedia Conrad N. Hilton Daniel I. Abrams The Green Foundation $5,000-$9,999 Foundation Danna & Ed Ruscha $10,000-$24,999 Dan Emmett David and Suzanne Automatic Data Processing David & Yvonne Zaro Chonette Anonymous Amita & Timothy Davis David Nahai David and Sylvia Weisz Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Amy & Daniel Palladino EarthShare of California Family Foundation ĀZLEE by Baylee Zwart Barry Family Foundation El Tesoro Blanco Tequila David Contis and Sandra Brian O'Malley & Katie Black & Veatch Corporation Felix Schein Cath Cameron CDM Fonda Family Foundation David de Vries California Coastal Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Goodr Deb Lacusta & Daniel Commission Foundation Jennifer and Glenn Cole Castellaneta Chelsea & Andy Lientz Ford Motor Company Kevin Wells Deborah Gitell Coastal Co George Strompolos Leslie Kahan Debra Gerod Craig Perkins & Roxanne Jacobs Louisa Bonnie Deutsch Family Wine and Mora Joyce Green Family Nancy Cypert Spirits David Weil Foundation NBC 4 Los Angeles Diane Cary & James Dr. Cammie Ott & Dr. Mark Julie Morley NBCUniversal Parriott Bell Kim and Craig Blum Nichol Shuart Don and Dale Franzen Entercom Kite Pharma Nina Abrams Fund Donald E. Dickerson Dr. Peter Castro Malina M. Hills Selman/Ridgeley Family Ford Motor Company Ed L. Barad Margaret Enders Trust Geo rey C. Given Erika & Mike Swimmer Margaret Levy Sharla & Barry Boehm LAcarGUY.com Farbstein Family Charitable Marilyn Payne Sherri Crichton Lauren Steiner Foundation Mary and George Garvey Stephanie Medina Robert Love Google Matthew White Susan Birthright Surf Academy Greg and Caroline Gretsch Meghan Sahli-Wells and Susanna Leng Susan Smith Gregory Gelfan Karim Sahli Ted & Jacqueline Miller W.S. Badger Company Gwen and Ian McShane Milner Butcher Media Ten Strands Who Gives A Crap Heather Popadych Group The Honest Company, Inc. Wylde One, INC Hotchkis & Wiley Moise Emquies The Ronald Newburg IBM Employee Services Nancy & Larry Pasquali Foundation Center Nancy Fleming The Snider Foundation James Upchurch Nancy Goodson The Streisand Foundation Jennifer Harris Nonprofits Insurance The Strickland Family Jill & Gerben Hoeksma Alliance of California Foundation JoAnn Kaplan Odyssey Charter School The Wonderful Company Kate Flather Osea Tower 28 Beauty Katherine and Don Gould Parley for the Ocean Trevor Bezdek Kathleen & Daniel Nikolai Patricia Glaser & Samuel Wendy & Michael Sidley Kathryn Porter Mudie William Lavoie Keith and Jaime Bussell Peter McMillan Woodard & Curran Lawrence A. Hanson Ramsey McDaniel Foundation Foundation Richard Radford Lewis and Lynn Mingori Roland and Laura McSherry In Kind Linda Lichter & Nick Marck Sandi & Joel Cohen Aerwyna Beauty Lori Miller Scott and Andrea Holtzman EcoFresh Organizing Luan & Richard Smith Scott and Jacquie Menville Evan Mulling 2020 Audited Fiscal Year (Oct 2019 - Sep 2020)
An unprecedented year: Heal the Bay Aquarium was closed and our in-person events were cancelled for most of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2%
Public Support $1,830,493
Grants & Contracts Total Revenue 58% $1,243,126 40% $3,124,819* In-Kind Services $51,200
9%
Programs $2,553,178
Functional Administration 19% Expenses 72% & Management $3,554,836 $1,830,493 Fundraising $327,576
*The decrease in net assets was o set by a $400k loan secured through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, which is expected to be forgiven and recognized as revenue in FY2020-2021. 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
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1. Beach Cleanup 2. Youth Summit 3. Coastal Cleanup Month 4. Super Healer Volunteer Party 5. Plastic Bag Ban Advocacy 6. Thank You Notes from Students 7. CCM Poster by Kelly Malka 8. Neighborhood Cleanup 9. New Aquarium Truck from Ford 10. Collecting Water Samples in the LA River (Photo by Alice Dison) 11. Reusable LA Coalition Volunteer Training 12. Tidepool Cleanup