By Megan Manecke, Lifestyles Editor
Many shoppers may be thinking about trimming spending
on holiday gift-giving this year while searching high and low for affordable
presents that are still some kind of wonderful. For Tara & John
Lulich from East Lansing, Michigan, giving manatee adoptions from Save the
Manatee Club is part of their joy of the season.
An annual manatee adoption costs $25 and includes an
adoption certificate, photo of a real endangered Florida manatee, biography,
membership handbook, and four newsletters throughout the year with updated
reports on the manatees in the adoption program. A personalized holiday
message is offered with each gift adoption.
“I’ve known about manatees since I was a teenager
visiting Florida, and they’ve always held a special place in my heart,” said
Tara. “For the past three Christmases, we have adopted manatees for
our children, Nick, 8, and Andrea, 11. We also adopted one for my mom
which has created a wonderful connection between my kids and their grandmother.”
In the spring of 2008, the Lulich family visited
Homosassa, and Andrea was thrilled to be able to see her adopted manatee,
Rosie. “It was an amazing experience to actually see the manatee whom we’d
read so much about,” said Tara. “We can’t imagine how anyone who spends a
second in their presence can’t help but fall in love with them!”
Manatees, who have inhabited Florida for over a
million years, are listed as endangered at the international, federal, and
state levels. The largest known cause of manatee injuries and deaths is
from human activity – predominantly from boat strikes. The Florida manatee
population is estimated to be around 3,800.
“There are many wonderful causes
out there, but Save the Manatee Club’s dedication to these fantastic animals is
beyond compare,” added Tara. “The Club does a marvelous job of making us
feel like a part of the group even though we live 1,400 miles away.”
For more information about manatees, or the
adoption program, contact Save the Manatee Club at 500 N. Maitland Ave.,
Maitland, FL 32751, call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646), or visit their web site at www.savethemanatee.org.
Also, sign up for the Club’s free E-Newsletter and check out their quick and
easy online gift catalog at http://www.savethemanatee.org/manateegifts.htm.
Comments