ORLANDO, Fla. – Gatorland Global is stepping up to help Jamaica recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island as a category five storm earlier this week.
Last spring, the amusement park Gatorland established a nonprofit, Gatorland Global, to increase its reach.
“So Gatorland Global is a 501c3 that works very hard with different communities throughout the world, and also with animals throughout the world to try and protect, conserve and educate about those animals,” International Ambassador for Gatorland Global, Savannah Boan, said.
Now, the nonprofit is focusing on providing much-needed aid to Jamaica, a place Boan frequently visits to collaborate with the Holland Bay Crocodile Sanctuary in St. Thomas and the Hope Zoo in Kingston.
[VIDEO: Jamaican groups in Central Florida mobilize over Hurricane Melissa impact]
“Jamaica is very, very close to our heart,” Boan said.
To support these institutions in their recovery, the nonprofit has launched an emergency relief fund.
“I know a lot of trees have come down, and I know a lot of fences have been compromised. I know they’re very busy right now building those fences back, getting those trees removed, getting the floodwaters out,” Boan said.
Money raised through the emergency fund will assist the zoo and sanctuary by aiding the animals and their caretakers.
[VIDEO: Central Florida businesses rally to send aid to Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Melissa landfall]
“Lots of families [are impacted]. Like if your dad or your mom works at the Hope Zoo, your family, because you live around there, might have some needs that we might be able to meet, or we might be able to give you some money to help meet those needs,” Boan explained.
All of the proceeds will go directly to animal rescue and rehabilitation, enclosure and habitat repairs and humanitarian aid.
“Americans go to Jamaica all the time, and we have so much fun there, right? We love the beaches, we love the people, we love the food. [This] a good opportunity for us to give back to Jamaica,” Boan said.
“Gatorland doesn’t keep anything. We don’t have administration fees and things like that. If we do fly over there, Gatorland, the park will pay for that. So, 100% of anything that we gather or that is donated during this time will go to the people of Jamaica.”
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