2018 ANNUAL REPORT

Fish &Wildlife Foundation SECURING ’S NATURAL FUTURE of FloridaT TM MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Since our founding in 1994, the Fish & Wildlife and other gamefish populations are healthy. New we’re able to leverage your gifts many times Foundation of Florida has worked to ensure Florida wildlife preserves have been created statewide to over. From gopher tortoises and Osceola turkeys remains a place of unparalleled natural beauty, protect terns, plovers, egrets and other colonial to loggerhead turtles and snook, there are few iconic wildlife, world-famous ecosystems and nesting birds. Since 2010, more than 2.3 million native fish, land animals and habitats that aren’t unbounded outdoor recreational experiences. Florida children have participated in outdoor benefiting from your support. programs, thanks to the 350 private and public We’ve raised and given away more than $32 Please enjoy this annual report and visit our members of the Florida Youth Conservation million over that time, mostly to the Florida Fish website at www.wildlifeflorida.org. For 25 years, Centers Network, which includes FWC’s new and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for we’ve worked quietly behind the scenes to make Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in Apollo Table of Contents which we are a Citizens Support Organization. good things happen. With your continued help, Beach and the Youth Conservation But we are also Florida’s largest private funder of we’ll do so much more. WHO WE ARE 3 Camp in Palm Beach County. outdoor education and camps for youth, and we’re WHAT WE DO 9 one of the most important funders of freshwater Our Foundation supports all of this. We raised and springs conservation. These are just a few of the donated $5.9 million in 2018, including support for 2018 GRANTS 23 many ways we work to maintain Florida’s natural FWC staff and their families who lost their homes resources and quality of life for present and future to , one of the four most intense OUR SUPPORTERS 35 generations. hurricanes to hit the United States in the past 125 years. FINANCIAL DATA 39 2018 was nonetheless a challenging year for conservation in Florida: red tide, blue-green In the last few months, we’ve also convened a algae, coral disease and Hurricane Michael made series of conference calls and meetings to identify headlines worldwide. These were critical events and begin field testing technologies that may limit that many organizations and agencies, including future red tide damage. We’re also working with the FWC and our Foundation, are working to partners to identify and fund critical research into alleviate. the fast-moving disease that’s killing 25 of the RIchard Corbett ’ 45 species of stony corals. But there was also plenty of good news in 2018. Most Florida waterways and coastline were open Funder, educator, catalyst, conservationist – those to fishing. Florida panthers, black bears and are the roles our Foundation serves in support of continue to rebound. Deer, turkey, bass FWC and the Florida public. Through partnerships,

II 1 WHO WE ARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OUR MISSION The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is Richard A. “Dick” Corbett Jack Curlett Carlos J. Alfonso Kathy Barco Connie Parker Eric Sutton dedicated to conserving Florida’s outstanding Chair Vice-Chair 2nd Vice-Chair Treasurer Secretary FWC Executive Director natural landscapes and habitats and the Tampa Pensacola Tampa Jacksonville Tampa Tallahassee iconic animals and plants they harbor. We work closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), for which we are a Citizens Support Organization, and its public and private partners. Since our founding in 1994, we have raised and donated more than $32 million for conservation and Paul E. Avery Tracy Baker Rodney Barreto Ignacio Borbolla Douglas P. Cone Jr. Steve Crisafulli Preston L. Farrior Tucker Frederickson Tampa Coral Gables Coral Gables Ocala Merritt Island Tampa Palm Beach Gardens outdoor recreation. We are also Florida’s largest private funder of outdoor education for youth.

Seth D. McKeel Jr. Jerry Pate John Pope Bruce K. Popham Donna Rawson Laura Russell Steve Swindal Daphne Wood Lakeland Pensacola Jacksonville Marathon Pensacola Jupiter Tampa Monticello

John Lacy C. Martin Wood III David Nye E. Vann Middleton Advisor Advisor Advisor Advisor West Palm Beach Monticello Gainesville Thomasville, GA 5 On October 27th at the Foundation’s annual fundraiser BlueGreen 2018, guest of honor and keynote speaker John L. “Johnny” Morris, conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops, made a OUR STAFF surprise announcement of a $1 million gift from Bass Pro Shops to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. This gift will be used to address Florida’s most pressing issues that impact its freshwater and marine habitats, including in the Everglades, Florida Bay and the Keys. Michelle Ashton Breanne Strepina Andrew Walker Will Bradford Erin Smart Digital Marketing & Major Gifts & Speaking before an audience of 330 President & CEO Chief Financial Officer Bookkeeper Membership Manager Events Manager Florida conservationists, anglers and

Nicole Forsgren William O’Connor hunters, Mr. Morris presented Foundation Conservation Intern Philanthropy Intern Chair Dick Corbett with a $100,000 check, the first installment of the gift. “We Florida Springs Grant Advisory Committee were completely surprised by Bass Pro Dr. James “Buddy” Powell Brian G. Katz Dr. Eberhard Roeder Sea to Shore Alliance, Chair FL Dept. of Environmental FL Dept. of Health Shops’ generosity,” said Corbett. “What a Protection Daniel Hubbard Kent Smith tremendous gift that will conserve nature Florida Dept. of Economic Annette Long FWC Opportunity at-large member and our outdoor heritage in Florida.” Jim Stevenson at-large member

Hunting & Shooting Sports License Plate Grant Advisory Committee

Lane Stephens Tom Knight Future of Hunting in Florida, National Rifle Association Chair Jim McClellan Newton Cook at-large member United Waterfowlers Morgan Richardson — Florida FWC

6 WHAT WE DO TAKING THE LONG VIEW FOUNDATION INITIATIVES Conservation of course isn’t just about today or tomorrow. The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of In close cooperation with FWC, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida supports In 2018, the Foundation’s Florida works to protect species and habitats for the very long-term, helping ensure Florida the full array of conservation needs in Florida, be it enhancing our fisheries, Board of Directors identified five initiatives that will drive remains a place of outstanding beauty and diversity for generations to come. supporting rehabilitation of injured wildlife or providing summer camp scholarships for the majority of our future economically disadvantaged youth. We operate as a statewide community foundation work. They are: In addition to the many FWC programs we support day to day, some of which are grouped under the major initiatives that follow, our • Connecting Kids & Families Foundation created two endowments in 2018 to help ensure Florida’s natural legacy and the public’s access to it for years to come. for conservation, helping connect conservation donors to the projects about which to Nature. they care most. We are a highly efficient organization, with 88 cents of every dollar • going into conservation and outdoor youth education. Combating Invasives • Restoring Our Reefs The recent support of our donors has helped us: • Conserving Wildlife • Identify and fund field testing of • Underwrite numerous research • Fund expansion of panther three emerging technologies for and restoration projects for many rehabilitation facilities at Zoo • Preserving Our Outdoor mitigating the toxic effects of red Florida freshwater springs. Tampa, one of two institutions Heritage (hunting, fishing, tide. in Florida authorized to treat boating & shooting sports) • Provide camp scholarships, wounded or sick panthers. • Underwrite hunting education outdoor gear and new cabins for Each of these initiatives is THE CHILDREN AND NATURE ENDOWMENT THE FLORIDA CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT and outings statewide for the Everglades and Tenoroc Youth • Create with FWC a matching grant outlined on the following “wounded warriors,” youth and Conservation Camps in Palm program to help communities pages. The average child or teen now spends 53 hours/week using The Florida Conservation Endowment is the Fish & Wildlife women. Beach County and Lakeland, as minimize bear-human conflicts. well as a wheelchair-accessible electronic media. Getting youth back into nature has become Foundation of Florida’s general endowment, used to support a • Improve monitoring of important boardwalk and fishing • Reduce panther-car collisions a national priority to combat childhood obesity; boost physical portion of our operations and the many conservation programs Florida Keys fish spawning pier at the Suncoast Youth Center in . fitness and emotional and social well-being; and inspire and projects we sponsor. This permanent fund, to which donors aggregation sites. in Apollo Beach. • Support captive breeding of North confidence and self-reliance in youth. Our Foundation is Florida’s can contribute via outright or planned gifts like bequests, • Test new methods for removing • Help launch 16 state-designated America’s most endangered bird, leading private funder of such outdoor programs and the new annuities or trusts, will help ensure a predictable stream of large numbers of lionfish from critical wildlife areas for roosting the Florida grasshopper sparrow. Children and Nature Endowment will ensure these programs have revenue for our conservation programs, far into the future. Florida waters. herons, egrets, pelicans, piping plovers, black skimmers and other • Fund reintroduction of permanent, predictable funding for years and years to come. • Fund collection of Burmese colonial nesting birds. endangered eastern indigo snakes pythons from the Everglades. to parts of the . For more information about these funds and how to contribute to them, contact Foundation President Andrew Walker at 941 809- 7805 or [email protected]. 10 11 CONNECTING KIDS & FAMILIES TO NATURE

Children and teens spend less and less time outdoors, despite its many physical, social, and emotional benefits. Florida’s young people deserve easy access to nature and the delight of embarking on outdoor adventures, alone or with family and friends, regardless of family income or situation.

We are Florida’s largest private funder for the buses and substitute teacher We recently closed a $30,000 funding of youth outdoor education and needed for an entire class of students gap in the $500,000 project to work closely with the Florida Youth and their teacher to spend a day construct a wheelchair-accessible Conservation Centers Network, a outdoors at a conservation center. boardwalk and fishing pier at Suncoast consortium of 350+ private and public Youth Conservation Center in Apollo We are helping to fund a $5.8 million partners providing formative outdoor Beach. This project will make nature renovation and expansion of the historic experiences annually to more than more available to all children. Everglades Youth Conservation 200,000 Florida children and teens. Camp (EYCC) in Palm Beach County. Our Foundation and donors provide More than 25,000 children and teens the summer camp scholarships, school have attended EYCC since the early field trip funds, outdoor gear and 1960’s. The $3 million left to raise educational materials needed to raise will help us and FWC build 10 new a new generation that learns from and wheelchair-accessible cabins to more loves the outdoors. than double the camp’s overnight A gift of $200 allows a child to attend capacity to 240 beds. a week-long summer camp. $500 pays

13 Anyone can help control invasive wildlife! COMBATING INVASIVES Getting involved does not require hiking through the Everglades or physically With our subtropical climate, Florida is an ideal place for many non-native species to handling wildlife; there are ways that become established, a handful of which have become a serious problem for Florida’s everyone can participate. People ecosystems. These include Burmese pythons and lionfish, which threaten the Florida can report sightings of nonnative species to the Exotic Species Hotline Everglades and Tract, respectively. (888-IVEGOT1). If you are an exotic pet owner who can no longer keep your Our Foundation is working with such as RISE (Robots in Service But radio tagging pythons to find exotic pet, please surrender the animal to FWC, the National Fish and Wildlife of the Environment) are developing other pythons, which is being tested the FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program. Foundation, the National Oceanic and submersible lionfish-hunting robots by the Conservancy of Southwest Atmospheric Administration, the Reef for deep-water populations. Our Florida and others, is one line of And if you have experience caring for Environmental Education Foundation Foundation is working with partners to attack that shows promise. Pythons exotic pets and can give a home to one and others to control both. develop acoustic signals that lure large may never be eliminated from the or two more, sign up to be one of FWC’s numbers of lionfish to traps or other Florida landscape, but we can learn exotic pet adopters. FWC is always Lionfish have been described as one of types of harvesting. to reduce their numbers. The Fish looking for qualified adopters to help the most aggressively invasive species & Wildlife Foundation of Florida place the surrendered pets. on the planet. Native to the Indo- Unlike lionfish, Burmese and North supports such efforts and is working Pacific, the red lionfish (Pterois volitans) African pythons are much harder to with conservation-minded businesses and the common lionfish (P. miles) have locate in the wild. It’s been estimated like Miami-based designer Ximena established themselves off the East that for every Burmese python pulled Kavalekas, Inc. to build FWC’s Python Coast of the United States and in the out of the Everglades, another 100 are Patrol, a network of individuals skilled Caribbean and are major threats to our nearby. in recognizing and capturing pythons. coral reef systems and fisheries. Long-term, we will be pursuing new FWC is working with a highly trained technologies and strategies to remove Currently, controlling lionfish is largely group of individuals to locate and much larger numbers of pythons from limited to divers spearing them, remove pythons from South Florida Florida ecosystems. though several organizations are ecosystems. It’s painstaking work; perfecting lionfish traps. Organizations some nights no pythons are found.

14 RESTORING REEFS Coral reefs are central to the health and diversity of our oceans. For 25% of marine life, this ecosystem is home. But disruption of reef biodiversity can trigger degradation of the reef as a whole. Reefs regulate carbon dioxide levels in the water and prevent shoreline erosion by mitigating the effects of offshore currents and hurricanes.

Florida possesses the Florida Reef Researchers are still working to assembled a Florida Coral Rescue Tract, the third-largest reef system identify the pathogen(s) and transport Team and have begun implementing a in the world, which runs from Martin mechanisms, but early indications Florida Coral Rescue Plan to save what County to the Tortugas. suggest it’s a bacteria spread by ocean is left of Florida’s healthy coral stocks, currents and through direct contact by asking zoos and aquariums across The Tract has suffered many stresses in with infected corals. Monitoring data the country to accept and grow healthy recent years, from high temperatures, from 2017 and 2018 show that many specimens from Florida’s Reef Tract. excess salinity, invasive lionfish and the Florida corals have sustained between mass die-off of sea urchins. In 2014, Our Foundation is working with 50% – 90% reduction in abundance. a fast-moving disease of unknown the FWC, NOAA and other funders original appeared. The disease, which The severity of this situation has and stakeholders to develop a in four years has spread across 89% of prompted FWC and partners to make comprehensive strategy for identifying the Florida Reef Tract, is killing 25 of the an unprecedented effort to preserve the disease and developing strategies ~45 species of stony corals in the Keys, corals from reef areas ahead of the for combating it. Time is of the essence while continuing to spread south and approaching outbreak, so that we and the stakes are high: there may be west to the Lower Keys. Once a coral are prepared for restoration once nothing preventing this disease from is affected by this disease and begins the disease has run its course. The eventually finding its way to the reefs of to lose tissue, it is almost certain the FWC, National Marine Fisheries the Caribbean and Mesoamerica. entire colony will die within a matter of Service, Florida Keys National Marine weeks or months. Sanctuary and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have

17 CONSERVING WILDLIFE

Florida possesses more than 2,800 plant species, 15,000 invertebrates, 1,000 species of saltwater fish, 140 species of freshwater fish, 280 species of amphibians, 89 species of native reptiles and 57 species of native mammals. At least 146 of our animal and 400 of our plant species are state- or globally threatened, endangered or of special concern.

We are famous for our charismatic and our Foundation. We work closely Current priority non-game species for megafauna – the , with FWC, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife the Foundation include Florida black West Indian and Florida Service and many others to prevent bears, panthers, indigo snakes and panther among them. We also have native species and natural communities Florida bonneted bats, to name a few. 490 species of native birds. We are from going extinct and actively support the number one state for boating, captive rearing and reintroduction fishing and birdwatching, which bring of native species to their historic billions of dollars annually to the state’s ranges. We also fund the ecological economy. management of Florida’s wildlife habitats, via controlled burns and other Ensuring future generations can means, to maximize the value of such experience Florida in all of its biological lands and waters for Florida wildlife and diversity is the mission of the FWC the people who enjoy them.

18 PRESERVING OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE Too few Americans fully appreciate the importance of hunting and fishing to conservation. In 1937, a national coalition of hunters concerned about the long-term fate of America’s natural lands and wildlife supported passage of a federal tax on hunting gear to fund wildlife conservation at state and federal levels. Known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, this landmark legislation has generated more than $10.5 billion – yes, billion — for the conservation of wildlife and habitat across the United States.

At the same time, in the absence The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of host collegiate, national and Olympic- of large natural predators which Florida financially supports FWC’s caliber competitive events, as well as have been eliminated in most of the efforts to attract a new generation of accommodate the novice and weekend continental United States, hunting is the men and women to hunting and the hobbyist. most important and effective tool for shooting sports, including archery, as You can help support the Foundation’s keeping populations of deer and other well to fishing and boating. We also hunting and shooting sports initiative by game animals – including Florida’s make grants to protect and manage making an outright donation or buying non-native, destructive wild pigs – in important wildlife habitats and ensure the “Wildlife Foundation of Florida” balance. By leasing lands for hunting, public access to hunting lands, while specialty license plate that features the hunters also provide an important improving deer stands, creating image of a deer. economic incentive for farmers and food plots, funding construction of other private landowners to manage wheelchair-accessible blinds and their lands for wildlife. much else. One of our largest current projects is completing funding for the But the number of Americans who Palm Beach Shooting Sports Park, hunt has dropped sharply as older a multipurpose shooting facility that generations of hunters retire from when opened in 2019, will be able to hunting.

21 2018 GRANTS The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida has always responded rapidly to natural disasters. In 2017, we raised $123,000 to help FWC families and charter fishing boat companies in South Florida GRANTS rebuild after , working with the Maverick Boat Company and

What follows is a partial list of the projects and recipients of the $5.9 million many others. This year, we created a the Fish & Wildlife Foundation raised and gave away in 2018. Approximately $1 Hurricane Michael Relief and Recovery million of these funds came from the three Florida conservation license plates Fund to support FWC first responders administered by our Foundation – the “Wildlife Foundation of Florida” license and biologists who lost their homes to plate that supports hunting, shooting sports and management of habitat, Michael. These women and men are the “Conserve Wildlife” plate that benefits endangered and other non-game always among the first to respond to species conservation, and the “Protect Florida Springs” plate that supports a disaster. Nearly $140,000 had been continued research and restoration of Florida’s world-renowned freshwater raised when this annual report went to springs. We also receive a portion of the proceeds from the “Discover press, and donations are still coming in. Florida’s Oceans” plate, which helps fund marine conservation and education To donate, please visit wildlifeflorida.org. programs.

Citizen input is an important part of our grant making. We are particularly indebted to the volunteer citizen committees that help review the many applications we receive for springs conservation, hunting and shooting sports programs, and game species management. Their input is invaluable in prioritizing the many laudable applications we receive.

24 “DISCOVER FLORIDA’S “CONSERVE WILDLIFE” OCEANS” GRANTS GRANTS The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida receives a portion of proceeds from the “Discover Florida Oceans” license plate, which is administered by the nonprofit Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute. Conserving Florida’s unique species remains a priority for the Foundation. In 2018, the Foundation’s Currently all funds received by the Foundation are being used to fulfill a multi-year $300,000 commitment Board of Directors approved $387,724 in 13 grants for nongame species conservation. These included to outfit the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in Apollo Beach, which specializes in the ecology of $33,000 to support conservation of American crocodiles; $15,000 to better understand the current Florida’s Gulf Coast, with scientific field equipment and microscopes, educational displays and materials, abundance, distribution and potential to reintroduce imperiled Ochlockonee Moccasinshell (Medionidus kayaks and other outdoor recreation gear. simpsonianus) and Oval Pigtoe (Pleurobema pyriforme) freshwater mussels; and $4,300 to map the home range of the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum), the most important and historically abundant herbivore on Florida’s coral reefs. Still-unexplained massive die-offs of urchins beginning in the 1990’s have led to unchecked algae growth in many parts of the Caribbean and Florida’s reefs. Mapping the urchin’s historic range will increase the chances for its successful reintroduction.

Project Name Location of Project Organization Grant Amount

Suncoast Youth Conservation Center Beach for marine laboratory and field equipment, educational materials and interpretative displays on Apollo Beach Suncoast Youth Conservation Center $300,000 the coastal ecology of Florida’s Gulf Coast

26 27 In 2018 the Foundation made its second consecutive grant toward the design and construction of a Florida black bear cub rehabilitation facility at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The Florida black bear, Project Name Location of Project Organization Grant Amount Ursus americanus oridanus, is a subspecies Growing Up WILD Curriculum Guides Statewide FWC $5,000 of the American black bear that once roamed throughout Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Bear cub rehabilitation enclosure Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park FWC $20,000 By the 1970’s the population had shrunk to 300 bears in several widely fragmented Headstarting of Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders Apalachicola National Forest FWC $46,729 populations. In the past 45 years, thanks to Watermelon Pond WEA, Fort White WEA, Suwannee Ridge WEA, and Arthropod community monitoring and plant-pollinator network mapping careful management by FWC and other state, Bell Ridge Longleaf WEA,Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and FWC in fire-maintained sandhills $25,771 Ravines Conservation Area local and federal agencies and support from

Documenting Occurrence of the Coastal Dunes Crowned Snake our Foundation, Florida’s bear population has Public lands in Volusia, Brevard, and Counties FWC $28,800 (Tantilla relicta pamlica) on Public Lands risen to at least 4,000 bears statewide. Assessing the home range of the long-spined sea urchin Florida Keys FWC Rising numbers of bears is resulting yearly in (Diadema antillarum) $4,300 hundreds of vehicle-bear collisions, leading Bear trap improvements and inflatable landing pads Statewide FWC $25,782 to increasing numbers of orphaned cubs requiring care. Enhanced monitoring for imperiled freshwater mussels of Florida , , , and FWC $15,000 Our Foundation has also invested more than Backyards and Beyond, Phase 1 Statewide FWC $16,000 $400,000 in matching grants, along with

Movements and Survivorship of Translocated Nuisance American $500,000 from the state, to help local Southernmost parts of the state FWC $33,000 Crocodiles communities buy bear-resistant trash cans to Using Echo-Sounder Buoys as Sampling Platforms for Fish Spawning Riley’s Hump, Florida Keys FWC reduce the potential for bear-human conflicts. Aggregations: A Pilot Study $70,500 In 2018, we also awarded $26,000 to FWC Assessing Benthic Recovery 10 years After the 2005 Harmful Algal Shelf, Northwest Florida FWC Bloom on the West Florida Shelf $58,899 for equipment improving the safe trapping of . Survey of Crypto serpentis in Wild Snakes and Reintroduction of the bears Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve FWC Eastern Indigo Snake at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve $37,943

28 “PROTECT FLORIDA SPRINGS” GRANTS Project Name Location of Project Organization Grant Amount Monitoring the for Manatees While Increasing Silver River, Marion County Sea to Shore Alliance $15,952 Florida’s hundreds of freshwater springs have been threatened in recent decades by nutrient pollution, Public Awareness on Best Practices for Viewing

invasive aquatic plants and other stresses. The protection and restoration of Florida’s springs, on which Movement Patterns of the Florida Peninsula Cooter and the Wekiwa Springs, Florida Marine Science Graduate Program at Jacksonville University $9,052 so much of the state’s aquatic diversity depends, is an ongoing, critical priority. Florida Red-Bellied Turtle in Wekiwa Springs Assessing temporal and spatial trends in fish assemblages St. Johns River Basin FWC - Fish & Wildlife Research Institute In 2018, the Foundation awarded seven grants totaling $176,394 for research, conservation and within spring runs of the St. Johns River Basin $42,500 restoration of Florida’s freshwater springs. These included grants of $21,390 to the Howard T. Odum Wakulla SPRINGSWATCH Wakulla Springs Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute, Inc. Florida Springs Institute, Inc. to monitor water quality in the Lower Santa Fe River and Weeki Wachee $10,695 Springs; $15,952 to the Sea to Shore Alliance to assess manatee use of the springs in Silver River; SPRINGSWATCH Wekiva Springs Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute, Inc. $10,695 $12,500 to Alachua County for habitat restoration at Poe Springs, and $9,052 to Jacksonville University to Investigating Drivers of Winter Shifts in Fish Abundance in the track habitat use in Wekiwa Springs by the Florida red-bellied turtle and peninsula cooter. Homosassa River System FWC Homosassa River System $75,000

Poe Springs Aquatic Habitat Enhancement & Outreach Poe Springs Alachua County Environmental Protection Department $12,500

30 31 Project Name Location of Project Organization Grant Amount

Enhanced surveillance for chronic wasting disease in free-ranging Statewide FWC deer in Florida $40,000

Manatee County Archery, Hunting, and Turkey Habitat Management Manatee County Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources $28,450

Womens Outreach Hunts Alachua County NWTF-Gator Gobblers $2,000 “WILDLIFE FOUNDATION FHF New Hunters Program Liberty County & Levy County The Future of Hunting in Florida, Inc. $21,335 OF FLORIDA” GRANTS Operation Outdoor Freedom Food Plots FY18-19 Blackwater River State Forest Friends of Florida State Forests – Florida Forest Service $4,000 Proverbs 31:15 Gainesville 10 CAN, Inc. $10,000 Our Foundation in 2018 awarded 17 grants totaling $203,179 from the “Wildlife Foundation of Florida” license plate. Proceeds from the purchase of the deer tag support protection and management of lands Alachua 4-H Archery Alachua County Alachua 4-H Archery $1,989 open to public hunting, hunting safety programs and training in archery and other shooting sports for women and men of all ages and backgrounds. Gators, Gals and Guns Gainesville The University of Florida Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society $2,005

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources received $28,450 for its youth archery program, including Introduction to Archery basics range equipment Highlands County Florida Bowhunters Council $3,900 support for outreach to new audiences. The Foundation awarded the FWC $40,000 to increase surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a highly contagious, fatal disease for deer that is ALLOUT Florida Adventure Program (ALLOUT) Statewide Florida Disabled Outdoors Association $20,000 spreading across North America. Field-to-Fork Program Statewide FWC $8,500

FWC 2019 R3 Summit Statewide FWC $12,000

UW-F/FWC Waterfowl Summit Ocala United Waterfowlers Florida, Inc. $2,500

Youth Hunt Stands Istipoga Flats Safari Club International South Florida Chapter $1,800

Hunter Ed Promotion Statewide FWC $21,200

Qualitative research with Florida college students on hunting Statewide FWC $20,000

Outdoor Youth Day Palm Beach County Florida Sportsmens Conservation Association $3,500

32 33 OUR SUPPORTERS National Marine Manufacturers Association Lanigan & Associates Mr. Steve Rockwood $100-$249 Nelson Mullins Broad & Cassel Mr. Cully Lord Ms. Lora Silvanima The 2701 Foundation, Inc. Mr. Jerry and Ms. Soozi Pate Mr. Frederick J. Lynch Mr. Stan Stiver Mr. James Mullinax Pepin Distributing Company Marathon Boats & Yachts Sunniland Family LP Mr. Amr Abd-Elrahman Mr. John Pope Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach Mr. Peter Truslow Ms. Bonnie Abellera Port of Tampa County Ms. Jenna Venero Mr. Thomas Abraham Publix Super Markets Charities MarineMax Mr. Andrew Walker Mr. Harris Abramson Pure Fishing Maurice Gusman Foundation Walmart Foundation Ms. Rachel Amuso Mrs. Donna and Mr. Cody Rawson Mr. Seth D. McKeel, Jr. Whiticar Boat Works Ms. Debra Anderson RIPA & Associates New York Conservation Officers Association Mr. Bruce Wilson Mr. John Astolfi Mr. Chuck Roberts Mr. Tom Pepin Ms. Julia Zhao Mr. Matt Badolato St. James Insurance Group Radiant Group Mr. Ian Baldwin THANK YOU! St. Johns Insurance Company The Raymond James Charitable $250-$499 Mr. Robert Benker Ms. Dana and Mr. Matt Young Endowment Fund Ms. Jacqueline Alasimi Mr. Michael Bittner Ms. Nancy and Mr. David Ridenour Mr. Francis Bates III Mr. Bruce Bolderman The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is only as strong as you, FWC Commissioner Ms. Sonya Rood Mr. Robert Bauer Broward County Airboat & Halftrack Club $1,000-$4,999 Mr. Tim Shields Mr. Bruce Akin Mr. Peter Cinamella Mr. Nathan Bunting our supporters, make us. We wish to thank the following individuals, Siesta Harbor Fish Club Mr. Thomas Arthur Mr. Roy Coleman Ms. Theresa Dianne Burnsed Mr. Chuck Stevens BarCharts Ms. Jane and Mr. Newton Cook Mr. Ryan Calonge foundations, corporations and organizations that made charitable gifts of Mr. Stephen Straske, II Bassmaster J. B. Davis Captain Rick Spratt Charter Fishing LLC Ms. Kieran Suckling Bernard Lewis Charitable Foundation Mr. Zachary Davis Mr. Anthony Ciavarella $100 or more between July 1, 2017 and November 1, 2018. Mr. Steve Swindal Bertram Yachts Diamond Canyon PTA Mr. John Clark Ms. Stella Thayer Board of Commissioners - Lake County Mr. Gregg Eason Mr. Scott Colman The Vestcor Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. Alan Boll Ms. Diane Eggeman Consolidated Electrical Services Mr. Christian Thompson To continue supporting us, please visit wildlifeflorida.org/give. Mr. William G. Bill Bostick Jr. Florida State Dog Hunters Association Amy, Jessi, Sra and Evy The Tom and Natalie Kibler Fund Ms. Marabeth and Mr. Charles Causey Friends of the BTYCC Ms. Amy Conti Mr. Paul Wharton Center for Biological Diversity Ms. Jennifer Garrison Mr. Trip Copeland Whole Foods Market Mr. William Cita Ms. Shannon Gittleman Mr. Andrew Cox Ms. Mary Ann Wood Coastal Conservation Association of Florida Mr. Paul Gray Ms. Jessica Crawford Mr. Jim Coble Ms. Elsa Haubold CustomInk LLC Mr. Nicholas Curtis $500-$999 Ms. Tonya Higgins The David & Kathleen Smith Family Fund Ms. Julia Diaco Mr. Shawn Borgeson Mr. J. Blaine John Mr. Charles Dennis Disney Worldwide Services Ms. Mary Lou Brunell Mr. Doug Jossim Mr. Richard Denoyelles Jr. Mr. Derick Driemeyer Mr. Thomas Champeau Kona Ice NE Tallahassee DJ Case & Associates $1,000,000+ $25,000-$49,999 Ferman Motor Car Company $5,000 -$9,999 Ducks Unlimited Ms. Kimberly Chase Ms. Jan Landsberg DonateWell Bass Pro Shops American Sportfishing Association Florida Power & Light Company Abundant Life Ministries Ms. Margaret Duncan Mr. Ronald Christaldi Mr. Bernard Lohr Mr. John Douglas The William Howard Flowers, Jr. Foundation, Inc. The Frank E Duckwell Foundation, Inc. Alliant Partners Enigma Fishing Ms. Judith Clapp Mr. David Alan Mann Mr. Harry Dutton Hancock Whitney Bank The Avery Family Foundation $100,000-$999,999 Mr. Preston Farrior Mr. Wayne Demarest Ms. Katie McHugh Ms. Samara Ebinger Kimmins Contracting Corporation Bergeron Everglades Museum and Wildlife Mr. and Mrs. C. Martin Wood III $10,000-$24,999 Ms. Laurin and Mr. Rex Farrior Florida Society Children of Michael Guttman Fund Ms. Mittie and Mr. Glenn Elliott Kitson & Partners - Babcock Ranch Foundation Mr. Richard Abrams Mr. Ivan Frederickson Jr. The American Revolution Ms. Chantel Miller Ms. Jacqueline L. Fauls Mr. John Lacy Blackrock Asphalt Company Allstate Insurance Company Mr. Richard Gerber Mr. Aaron Gabriel Mr. Lowe Morrison Mr. Brian Ferguson $50,000-$99,999 Maverick Boat Group BoatUS Foundation The Barco Family Foundation Ms. Jennifer and Mr. L. Lowry Baldwin Gopher Tortoise Council The Garner Rose O’Brien Halderman Fund Mr. Robert Muller Mr. Colin Figley Ocean Reef Conservation Association Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Contender Boats Ms. Shelia and Mr. Rodney Barreto Ms. Dawn Goss Ms. Nana and Mr. Kevin Geyer Mr. Mark Murray Ms. Jennifer Fitzwater PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Ms. Kristine and Mr. Scott Boos The Corbett Family Charitable Foundation Bay Transportation/Marine Towing of Tampa Guy Harvey Ocean Fund HDR Engineering Mr. Henry Norris Mr. William Flanagan III The Recreational Boating & Fishing Cheney Brothers The Jane Smith Turner Foundation BIA & Company Hawkins Family Foundation Ms. Sara Hendricks Owl Café Mr. Sean Flynn Foundation The Everglades Foundation The Knopf Family Foundation Borbolla Insurance Agencies Holt Logistics Corporation Mr. Nehl Horton Mr. Gerardo Perez Ms. Anita Forester The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Florida Aquarium The Mary Nell Ward Fund within the Brandmuscle The Hufty Foundation - on behalf of Ms. Mary Mr. Hunt James Ms. Sue and Mr. Joe Reina Friends of Barefoot Beach Preserve Inc. The Save Our Seas Foundation The Florida Foundation of Responsible Angling Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Brandt Information Services Hufty and Mr. Daniel Alegria Mr. Todd Lard Mr. Thomas Reinert Mr. Kipp Frohlich FWC Commissioner Michael W. Sole The Future of Hunting in Florida The Miami Dolphins Foundation The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay The Humana Foundation Ms. Lynn Leavitt on Behalf of Takats Mr. Louie Roberson Ms. Amanda Frost Southern Strategy Group Galati Yacht Sales The Mosaic Company Cone Distributing Company (Team Cone) Ms. Susan Jedlund Foundation Mr. Ron Smith Mr. Jon Fury TECO Energy Garcia Family Farms The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Ms. Katie and Mr. Jack Curlett Ms. Jennifer Jehn Mr. Stu Martel Mr. Grigori Temkine Mr. August Garcia Transition Watersports The George M. Baldwin Foundation The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Deseret Cattle & Citrus Company Mr. Gary Jennings Safari Club Mr. Keith Waters Mr. Chris Gardinal The Turner Foundation, Inc. Harrod Healthcare Development Administration Dex Imaging Ms. Marie and Mr. Doc Kokol Oyster City Brewing Company Ms. Sherine Wright Ms. Virginia and Mr. Joe Giumara Valley National Bank Herzog Transit Services The Exposition Foundation Habitat Alliance Ms. Sharon Prizant Mr. Thomas Glodowski Ms. Karen and Mr. Edward Wahl Mr. Jerry McKinnis 36 37 Ms. Jennifer Goff Mr. Trevor Newman Ms. Mary E Whittaker Mr. Gregg Goldsworthy Mr. Jeffrey Nolan Mr. James Whittington Mr. Jeff Gore Mr. Cyrus Norman Wild Amelia Nature Festival, Inc. Mr. Neal Goss Mr. Joseph Ohop Wildlife Abuse Defense League C. N. Gray Ms. Michelle Pavlick Mr. Eugene Wiley Ms. Denise Griffing PeakBiety Branding + Advertising Ms. Rita and Mr. John Williams Mr. Scott Gudes Mr. Neil Pearce Ms. Vicki Williams Mr. Jeff Guenthner Ms. Jeanie and Mr. Henry Pfleger Ms. Mary and Mr. Steven Wood Mr. Kenneth Haddad Mr. Bryan Phillips Ms. Virginia and Mr. Arthur Wycoff Mr. Sam Harris Mr. Dave Precht Mr. David Xander Mr. Felix Hensley Mr. Robert Preston Ms. Laura Yarbro Ms. Anne and Mr. Dean Hissett Ms. Tracy and Mr. Michael Ramsey Mr. Beau Yeiser Ms. Cindy Hoffman Mr. David Rathke Ms. Katherine Youngbluth Mr. Steve Horan Mr. Greg Reese Ms. Kathy Youngbluth Mr. Charles Horwath Mr. Brian Rehwinkel Ms. Karen Zakriski Mr. Steven Hunnewell Mr. Patrick Reynolds Mr. John Hunt Mr. Morgan Richardson In-Kind Gifts Ms. Tonya Hussein Ms. Liza Rivera Mr. Carlos and Mr. Albert Alfonso Mr. John Ingles Mr. David Robertson African Maximum Safaris Insite Lake Buena Vista Mr. Ricky Roland Bass Pro Shops Ms. Laura Jerome Mr. Chris Roszkowiak Bertram Yachts Mr. David Johnson Mr. Evelio Rubiella Mr. Tim Borski Mr. Howard Jones Mr. Ronald Rupp Busch Gardens Ms. Julia Juneau Mr. Brad Rutherford Casa Vieja Lodge, Ms. Kristen and Mr. David Mr. Joseph Kayne Mr. Steve Rutledge Salazar, owners Ms. Carol Knox Mr. Jeffrey Schumacher Mr. Carey Chen Ms. Ellen Koblitz Mr. Roger Shields Contender Boats Mr. David Kollen Ms. Peggy and Mr. Todd Silverman Ms. Cornelia G. and Mr. Richard A. Corbett Mr. Robert Kossler Mr. William G Smith Jr. Mr. Preston Farrior Mr. David Kreutzer Mr. Mark Soucy Fishpond, Inc. Ms. Roberta Lake Mr. Robert Southwick The Florida Aquarium FINANCIAL DATA Ms. Sherry Lake Ms. Valerie Sparling The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Mr. Chip Latham Ms. Sharon Spiker Commission Ms. Deborah Leffler Mr. Andy Stafford The Gilchrist Club Learning Institute for Elders at UCF Ms. Karen Steidinger GliddenSpina & Partners Mr. Greg Livingstone Ms. Heidi Stiller Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Ms. Caroline Malkinski Mr. Jeffrey Stone Hook & Tackle Mr. Lorne Malo The Savannah Bergeron Turtle Fund Kevin’s Guns Mr. Andrew Maltais Mr. Jonathan Sutherland Ladies! Let’s Go Fishing Mr. Jim Mason Mr. Raymond Swiger Loadmaster Aluminum Trailers Mr. Richard Matheson Mr. Mike Tabuchi Ms. Connie Parker Mr. Bryan Matthews Tampa Audubon Society Mr. John Pope Mr. Kurt Mazurek Ms. Whitney Tawney Pure Fishing Ms. Sylvia and Mr. Jim McCort Mr. David Telesco Mr. K.C. Scott Mr. William Meadows The Logan D. Whalen Family Mr. Geoffrey Smith Mr. David Meehan Mr. Stephan Thigpen StreamSong Resort Ms. Carol Messina Mr. Lawrence Thompson Mr. Carlton Ward Mr. Mike Mezrah Mr. Lee Thompson White Oak Conservation Ms. Diane and Mr. Mark Mientek Mr. Jeff Tighe Ximena Kavalekas, Inc. Ms. Lisa Monk Mr. Jason Totoiu Yamaha Marine Group Mr. Philip Morrill Ms. Amy Trumpoldt ZooTampa at Lowry Park Ms. Lauren Morse Ms. Aledia Tush Ms. Andrea Mosier Mr. Lou Ventriglia Ms. Cheryl Mullen Ms. and Mr. Robert Walls Mr. Rodney Nakashima Ms. Valerie and Mr. Richard Watson 38 2018 REVENUE BY SOURCE 2018 PROGRAMMATIC EFFICIENCY

3% 2% 5% 11% 10% 11% 34%

9% Endangered Species 25% Mitigation $4,726,584

Program Fees and Services $2,272,839

% 5 Philanthropic Giving $1,189,835

% % 21 Investments $1,159,977 28 REVENUE 2% 92%

License Plates $995,068 GRANT AWARDS BY CATEGORY BY SOURCE EXPENSE BY CATEGORY Government Grants $547,347 Species Conservation $1,973,970 Program $5,871,239 In-Kind $186,110 Wildlife Management $1,633,554 Administration $351,080 Total $11,077,760 Hunting and Shooting Sports $1,483,089 Fundraising $185,924 Outdoor Youth Programs $671,800 Total $6,408,243 Florida Springs Research and Education $108,826 43% Total $5,871,239 40 41 CONSERVING NATURE AND OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE Help support our work by donating to the Foundation, buying a license plate, or volunteering.

More information can be found at wildlifeflorida.org.

Fish &Wildlife Foundation of FloridaT TM

P.O. Box 11010 Tallahassee, FL 32302

Proud Citizen Support Organization for the 100 Eighth Avenue SE Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission St. Petersburg FL 33701

(850) 922-1066 (800) 988-4889 [email protected]