One by One
Coastal Wilds, Recipient

Coastal Wilds

Frankford, Delaware

Making a better future for wildlife through conservation and education

Coastal Wilds is a zoological park that provides opportunities for people to meet and learn about animals. Located near the Delaware shore, the park is home to more than 40 species of “ambassadors,” including kangaroos, otters, sloths, camels, capybara and lynx. Its team is focused on education and guided by its commitment to conservation, community and the animals in its care.

Uncommon experiences and memorable moments

The park welcomes about 20,000 guests each year. Part of the draw is how it differs from traditional zoos. Instead of daily self-guided tours, Coastal Wilds offers up-close, hands-on experiences including encounter tours—where guests can pet a kangaroo and interact with camels, aardvarks and sloths—and otter swims.

“Everyone loves our otters,” said Zach Bova, brand manager. “They’re Asian small-clawed otters, so they’re the smallest of the otter species. We have high-five stations where guests can get little taps from them. And our big-ticket item is swimming with otters, where you get 45 minutes in the pool with two otters. They’ll climb up on your shoulders, play with your hair. They’re really curious and playful. It’s a lot of fun.”

Fundraising gifts have a far-reaching impact

In September, Coastal Wilds held its fourth annual Brews & Roos fundraiser, featuring samples from local breweries, live music and opportunities to mingle with animal ambassadors. It’s the organization’s largest annual event and supports the work of nonprofit Kids Saving the Rainforest, a like-minded Costa Rican wildlife organization that rescues and rehabilitates sloths, primates, parrots and other animals.

“We’re partnered with them because they’re a true wildlife sanctuary that helps many of the species we have here in the park,” Bova said. “Our organization focuses on creating bonds with animals through hands-on experiences that help people better understand and learn about them, so it’s wonderful to partner with a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wildlife.”

For the most recent Brews & Roos event, guests were treated to a VIP experience, which featured a sloth encounter and exclusive fundraising gifts, including coolers purchased through a one by one grant. Nearly 500 people gathered to support the cause, making the event an outstanding success. “We were really, really pumped about it,” Bova said.

A note from Cheryl

The Coastal Wilds team is doing important work educating the public about its animal ambassadors and ways to help protect their habitats. We were proud to support the team’s work by providing fundraising gifts to give the Brews & Roos event a boost. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.

For more information about Coastal Wilds, please visit https://www.coastalwilds.org/

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