SCTC Marine Biology Education Scholarship Foundation
The SCTC Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation has made remarkable contributions to the field of marine science since its inception in 1996. Over the years, the foundation has awarded more than 248 scholarships and grants, totaling over $640,000, to support students in the marine biology program at CSULB. These funds have facilitated significant advancements in marine research and conservation, enabling students to engage in vital projects that preserve marine habitats. The foundation is a separate philanthropic entity that complements the SCTC. It is a nonprofit organization whose board is comprised of members from the SCTC and California State University Long Beach. The foundation also organizes two major fundraising events each year to sustain its efforts. The first event, Tackle Day, is held in April and is open to both SCTC members and the general public. Featuring a wide array of donated fishing equipment, this lively event generates proceeds that directly support the foundation. Tackle Day is organized and highly effective under the leadership of Richard DeCoudres. In the fall, the foundation conducts its annual donation campaign to engage donors and gather additional support for its programs.
In addition to its events, the Foundation accepts cash, checks, fishing gear, stock donations, and estate donations to support its mission. This broad range of donation options makes it easy for individuals and organizations to contribute to marine biology education and research. The foundation’s current board includes Michael Contino, President, as well as Gus Chabre (past president), Don First, Bob Hetzler, Tom Dixon, Curt Herbert, and Dr. Chris Lowe from CSULB. Together, these dedicated individuals ensure the foundation’s efforts continue to benefit students and marine ecosystems alike.
One of the notable contributors to marine biology is Dr. Ryan Logan, a recipient of the foundation’s scholarship in 2015. Dr. Logan has dedicated his research to studying apex predators, such as blue marlin, black marlin, and sailfish, in regions like Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. By developing a specialized tagging system equipped with cameras, sensors, and GPS trackers, he has provided valuable insights into the recovery behaviors of these species after being hooked and released. His findings reveal that recovery times vary across species, with blue marlin needing nine hours, sailfish five hours, and black marlin taking slightly longer due to their heightened vulnerability. This research plays a critical role in understanding and improving the survival rates of these vital predators, which hover around 80%. The achievements of the SCTC foundation and its scholars exemplify the importance of supporting marine science education. Through financial aid, innovative research, and community-driven fundraising, the foundation has not only advanced our understanding of marine ecosystems but also highlighted the interconnectedness of biodiversity and human activity. Events like Tackle Day and the annual donation campaign, combined with diverse donation opportunities, ensure the foundation’s continued success in empowering student-driven initiatives aimed at protecting marine habitats and promoting sustainable fishing practices. Dr. Logan’s groundbreaking work serves as a testament to the foundation’s enduring impact on the preservation of marine life and the broader scientific community
In addition to scholarships the Foundation has helped fund the purchase of new motors for the Cal State Long Beach Marine Biology research boat as seen below.
Your contributions have helped achieve a high level of student success. We ask you to help
continue to support the SCTC Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation program
by making a donation.
The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization, meaning your contribution is tax deductible to the
extent of the law.
Tax ID# 95-4598051
To make a donation we offer three methods.
Instructions for Donating cash to the SCTC Marine Biology Education Foundation:
If you would like to donate with a cash endowment, you can simply mail a check made out to the SCTC Marine Biology Education Foundation. Please mail the check to the SCTC Foundation, c/o Mike Contino at 6289 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90803
Instructions for Donating Stock to the SCTC Marine Biology Education Foundation:
1. Contact your personal brokerage manager and tell them what stock and how many shares you want to transfer.
2. Tell your brokerage manager that you want the stocks transferred to LPL Financial. Use DTC# 0075. Reference SCTC Foundation 30512919
3. Important to notify Gus Chabre or Michael Contino of the impending transfer. ( Our contact agent at LPS is not automatically notified when stock has been transferred and we need to inform her so she can cash the stock and put the proceeds into our account.)
Instructions for making AmazonSmile donations to our Foundation at no cost to you.
Using smile.amazon.com is a simple way for you to make a donation to SCTC Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation every time you shop at Amazon. The AmazonSmile Foundation is the charitable arm of Amazon that donates 0.05% of the purchase price from your AmazonSmile purchase. I hope the following will help you get started:
How do I shop with AmazonSmile?To use AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com on your computer browser or the Amazon Shopping app on your mobile phone.
How do I use AmazonSmile on my computer?1. Visit smile.amazon.com 2. Sign in with the same account you use with Amazon.com3. Select Sctc Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation as your charity.4. Start shopping. Remember to checkout at smile.amazon.com to generate a donation to Sctc Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation.
How do I select a charitable organization to support with AmazonSmile?On your first visit to smile.amazon.com you will be prompted to select a charitable organization to receive donations from your future eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Your selected charity (Sctc Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation) will be remembered whenever you shop at smile.amazon.com
Can I change my charity?For those of you who have selected a charity for AmazonSmile you can change your charity to Sctc Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation by visiting smile.amazon.com/change Your AmazonSmile purchases will count towards Sctc Marine Biology Educational Scholarship Foundation after you have made the change.
The SCTC Foundation thanks you for your support!