NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pacific Life Foundation today announced a five-year $2.5 million commitment to invest in national and local ocean health focused nonprofit organizations. The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, and World Wildlife Fund will each receive $500,000 over a five-year period. An additional $100,000 will be invested annually in local and regional ocean health focused charitable efforts. The Pacific Life Foundation has provided more than $17.1 million in grants that have directly supported ocean health and the conservation of marine mammal life.
“We are passionate about doing our part to ensure the environment remains vibrant for generations to come and we are steadfastly focused on ocean health and long-term sustainability efforts,” said Tennyson Oyler, president, Pacific Life Foundation. “This critical funding will support these charities as they endeavor to protect our oceans and marine mammal life in the U.S. and around the globe.”
Funding from the Pacific Life Foundation will support:
- The Nature Conservancy – the development of sustainability tools and implementation of systems for gathering data about the health and status of marine species to better inform protection measures. Funding over the next five years will help transform fisheries management to make the sea safer for wildlife, advance important policy changes, and put scientific findings to work to protect vulnerable species.
- Ocean Conservancy – the organization’s International Coastal Cleanup®, which annually engages hundreds of thousands of volunteers to remove millions of pounds of trash from coastal areas and waterways. Additionally, funding will support the Trash Free Seas® program and its efforts aimed at solving the complex issues around preventing ocean debris.
- Oceana – the organization’s campaigns in the United States to protect marine mammals and other ocean wildlife, marine habitat, and fisheries.
- World Wildlife Fund – helping to improve policies to prevent bycatch and reduce the global impact of fishing on whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as well as implement wildlife safety measures for shipping through the Bering Strait.
Supporting Quotes
“The Pacific Life Foundation funding will help us put our scientific findings to work to protect vulnerable whales and reduce unintentional bycatch of sensitive species like turtles, dolphins, and sharks at a scale that has widespread benefits for marine ecosystems throughout the United States and around the world,” said Tom Dempsey, California Oceans program director, The Nature Conservancy.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Pacific Life Foundation in support of our critical work to protect our ocean and marine wildlife,” said Allison Schutes, director of the International Coastal Cleanup at Ocean Conservancy. “Through Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, more than 17 million volunteers around the world have cleaned up 350 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways in more than 150 countries.”
“Oceana is pleased to continue its partnership with the Pacific Life Foundation to ensure responsible, science-based fishery policies and management in the United States,” said Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless. “These campaigns protect marine life, including marine mammals, sea turtles, and sharks, some of which are endangered; reduce overfishing and bycatch, the incidental catch of non-target species; and protect fragile marine habitats to ensure healthy ocean ecosystems that also support abundant fisheries.”
“With support from the Pacific Life Foundation, we are working to improve policies to prevent bycatch as well as disastrous consequences from increased maritime activities,” said Leigh Henry, director, Wildlife Policy, World Wildlife Fund. “By tackling the two issues from a global to a local reach, together with our partners, we aim to protect at least 95 species, raise awareness to 1,000,000 people, and see tangible progress in our collaborations with policymakers, governments, organizations, and other stakeholders to protect cetaceans and other marine species.”
About Pacific Life and the Pacific Life Foundation
For more than 150 years, Pacific Life has helped millions of individuals and families with their financial needs through a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients and has been named one of the 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com.
The Pacific Life Foundation (the Foundation) was established in 1984. Together with Pacific Life, the Foundation has contributed $139 million to community and national nonprofit organizations. Grants are made to charities that address a broad spectrum of social and environmental needs.
Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2022 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2022 FORTUNE 500® list.
