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In honor of beloved Winter the Dolphin, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is hosting several opportunities for her fans, followers, and extended family to celebrate her life beginning on Saturday, November 20.Ī private early-morning ceremony will be held in Clearwater for all active CMA staff, interns and volunteers. We remain committed to our Inspire program and guests. The memorial ceremony in honor of Winter the Dolphin below was livestreamed on November 20.Ī: Winter’s legacy will continue in many different ways and one of those will be through the Inspire Program. In 2020, Clearwater Marine Aquarium opened an $80 million expansion including a brand new 1.5 million-gallon water dolphin habitat providing CMA with the ability to care for more rescued and non-releasable dolphins. Her story, as told in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 resulted in a $2 billion impact to Pinellas County from 2012 to 2015 when the rest of the country was coming out of a recession. Winter the Dolphin inspired millions across the world with her message of perseverance. “Returning Winter to her natural home is a poetic ending to her incredible 16-year journey and we couldn’t think of a better way to lay her spirit to rest,” said Powell. In a final tribute to her, CMA staff will release her ashes into the Gulf of Mexico this January. The remaining funds are reinvested to safeguard indefinite support of CMA.Īfter her necropsy, Winter’s body was cremated. Beginning January 2022, gifts to Winter’s Endowment are invested, and a portion of the annual income for the investment is used to address any immediate needs. “Through a collaboration with the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, this permanent endowment establishes a long-term sustainability strategy for the future of our organization,” said Powell. CMA encourages the community and fans of CMA to bring notes, cards, and share their stories about how she impacted their lives, or those of a loved one, to a memorial onsite beginning December 26 next to the old Winter Zone where she spent most of her life. Winter inspired so many people across the globe. Throughout her life, CMA captured 360-degree videos of Winter and countless 2-D images which will be produced into a virtual reality immersive experience that guests will be able to visit onsite in CMA’s Virtual Reality theater starting January 2022. “We have the technology available to us where guests will be able to virtually swim with Winter and experience her personality as if she were still alive,” said Powell. For those of us who loved Winter, I’m proud to announce that Winter will live on in the physical world as well as the digital world so her signature tweet, demeanor, and personality can never be forgotten,” said President Dr.
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“When a loved one passes there is a very real fear that we will forget the sound of their voice or even the way they walked. On the 16 th anniversary of her rescue, Clearwater Marine Aquarium proudly announces its plans to honor Winter the Dolphin’s legacy. We hope you’ll swim and play for evermore
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There was a tiny chance that you’d surviveīut there nothing about you that was typicalĪs you were the greatest gift we could not We look forward to welcoming all to visit and share her memory at CMA and continuing her legacy with future generations.Ī poem adapted from the song “In Our Heart You’ll Be” ©2021, written by Stephen Page. Her legacy will continue at Clearwater Marine Aquarium with an onsite memorial for visitors, virtual experiences, and an endowment in Winter’s honor that will safeguard indefinite support of CMA. Together we will keep her inspiration alive forever. We would like to thank all of Winter’s fans who have shared their love and supported CMA during this time. Flower petals of roses and orchids were also released into the Gulf and the team blew bubbles, honoring one of Winter’s favorite enrichment activities A poem was read in her memory before her ashes were released.
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In her honor, there was a C-130 flyover by the Coast Guard to begin the ceremony-at-sea.
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