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I help wildlife conservation nonprofits share the stories of their “Wonderkeepers”
Who are these Wonderkeepers?
The people whose hearts were captured by the natural world…who devote a good part of their lives and resources to protecting it.
A Wonderkeeper may be:
- a retired biology teacher
- a volunteer who counts sea turtle nests
- a birder who has visited the same marsh for forty years
- a field biologist sleeping in a tent
- a family leaving part of their estate to protect wetlands
- a child who never forgot the first elk they saw
Why their stories matter
Conservation organizations work tirelessly to preserve species, habitats, and ecosystems.
But what about the people who made that work possible?
Their stories deserve preservation too.
What happens when people read these stories?
Stories create identification.
Readers imagine themselves becoming part of the story.
The goal isn’t simply to inspire them.
It’s to invite them to join your organization’s work.
In whatever way they can.
A wildlife conservation Wonderkeeper story
A fictitious donor, a fictitious non-profit…an example to demonstrate: What a Wonderkeeper story should look like.
The story should:
- momentarily let the reader “slip into the skin” of the featured conservation “hero”
- lead them to imagine making their own planned gift, volunteering their time, getting involved
Dr. Michael Alvarez waded into the waters of the Indian River. He was greeted by the chirping of a mother osprey and an occasional whiny from an eastern screech owl -hidden somewhere inside the tangle of the nearby mangroves.
The brackish waters smelled earthy, musky that morning. A familiar scent. He smiled. Because he knew that around his feet, between mangrove roots, that water was teaming with life.
He had spent more than thirty years teaching marine biology along Florida’s Atlantic coast. But some of his most meaningful lessons happened far from the classroom. Alongside student volunteers, he often waded through shallow estuaries planting mangroves, monitoring seagrass beds, and restoring fragile shoreline habitats damaged by storms and development.
“When you see young people working knee-deep in the water to bring an ecosystem back to life,” he said, “you realize conservation is really an act of hope.”
Over time, Dr. Alvarez came to understand that mangroves and seagrasses do far more than protect marine wildlife. These coastal habitats also capture and store enormous amounts of carbon — what scientists now call “blue carbon” — helping defend vulnerable coastlines while slowing the impacts of climate change.
Watching restored habitats flourish year after year convinced him that long-term conservation requires long-term commitment.
That is why Dr. Alvarez chose to include Blue Carbon 4 Oceans in his estate plans.
His legacy gift will help restore and protect the coastal ecosystems he loved for generations to come.
“I’ve spent my life studying these waters,” he said. “This gift is my way of making sure they continue to thrive long after I’m gone.”
To learn how you can create a lasting legacy for our oceans through a planned gift, please contact our Planned Giving Office for a confidential conversation. Together, we can help protect mangroves, seagrasses, and coastal habitats for future generations.
I make it simple for you
Simple forYour Team. Meaningful for Your Donors.
1. You introduce me to one of your “Wonderkeepers.”
2. I interview them.
3. You receive a publication-ready story
Every conservation organization has its own Wonderkeepers
Many have never been asked to tell their story.
I’d love to help you discover them…and preserve them.
Wonderkeepers are the people who fell in love with the natural world…Their legacy is a reflection of that love.
Their stories deserve to be preserved. And shared.
Up for a chat?
No pressure.
I’d love to meet you and talk about the things we hold dear.
