The Virginia Aquarium shares a delicious way to support shark conservation!
Image Collection Credit: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
As part of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Shark Week activities and shell-ebrations, the Aquarium and local franchise donut shop, Duck Donuts, has teamed up for three years to celebrate shark species and conservation and to raise money for the Virginia Aquarium Foundation. In 2024, the proceeds raised during Shark Week, in partnership with Duck Donuts, were given to the SAFE Sharks and Rays program for conservation, which raised a record-breaking $1,343.98.
Anyone who made a gift to the Virginia Aquarium Foundation online or in person at the Aquarium from July 7 through 13 received a coupon for a free shark-themed donut at participating Duck Donuts locations in Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Williamsburg. The majority of gifts were made from guests who rounded up their Aquarium ticket purchase online.
If donations were made in person at the Aquarium, then a printed Duck Donuts coupon was given directly to the guest. For online donations, our development team emailed a digital coupon. Participants were asked to show their donation receipt and Duck Donuts coupon to redeem a free donut.
The fundraiser was promoted on the Aquarium’s organic social media channels including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It was also featured in a Shark Week press release as well as the Aquarium’s email newsletter and website. Additionally, the participating Duck Donuts shops displayed signage about the fundraiser. The Virginia Aquarium started the partnership with Duck Donuts in 2022 when the Duck Donuts Vice President of Operations, who oversaw the Suffolk and Virginia Beach locations, reached out about a partnership during Shark Week to complement the shops’ shark-themed donuts. Since then, the partnership has expanded beyond Shark Week, with Duck Donuts gift certificate donations made for our Ocean Commotion online auction and with future plans to collaborate on World Sea Turtle Day in June.
