Founded | 1985 |
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Type | 501(c)(3) |
Focus | Protecting the Santa Monica Bay, the California coastline and the surrounding watersheds. |
Location | |
Method | environmental advocacy, Research and Education |
Website | http://www.healthebay.org |
Heal the Bay is a U.S. environmental advocacy non-profit organization based in Santa Monica, California. The organization's focus is on protecting California's Santa Monica Bay, a region of the Pacific coast encompassed by Malibu's Point Dume on the north and the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the south. In broader terms, it also supports efforts to preserve and protect all Southern California coastal waters and watersheds.
Heal the Bay was founded in 1985 by a group led by environmental activist Dorothy Green. Mark Gold became the president of the organization in 2006 and held the position until 2012. The current president and CEO is Alix Hobbs, who took the post in October 2014. The organization has become a prominent advocate for the environment in California, and is particularly known for its annual report card ratings of the water quality at beaches along the Pacific coast. It was also active in advocating for restrictions on plastic bags in California.
Heal the Bay supports public health and education outreach programs as well as sponsoring beach cleanup programs such as Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-a-Beach. It also operates the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, which was formerly known as the Ocean Discovery Center and was operated by UCLA until 2003.
Heal the Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has both full-time paid staff members and volunteers. It works with a number of partners in pursuing its goals.
Heal the Bay has worked with artists such as Marina DeBris to educate people about beach trash.