Take MAR’s 2024 Year in Review: Celebrating a Year of Impact
As 2024 comes to a close, Take MAR is proud to reflect on an incredible year of environmental stewardship and community impact. From exciting new initiatives to powerful restoration efforts, this year was a landmark for our nonprofit. With the help of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, we’ve expanded our reach and deepened our commitment to protecting and restoring Florida’s natural beauty.
Here’s a snapshot of what we accomplished together in 2024:
🌳 Environmental Wins
231 Trees Planted
These trees will provide shade, improve air quality, and offset carbon emissions for years to come, with a monetary value of $255.20 in carbon offsets.203 Native Plants Planted
Supporting biodiversity through native species planting ensures healthier ecosystems for future generations.60 Seeds Planted
Small beginnings lead to big transformations, and each of these seeds represents hope for our natural spaces.
2024 Highlights
This year was packed with exciting events and projects. Some of the highlights include:
Hillsborough Community College with Sila Realty Trust: A collaborative effort to green the campus with native trees and plants.
Jorgenson Lake Park: Volunteers helped stabilize the shoreline and improve water quality with thoughtful plantings.
Mullet Creek Nature Park: In partnership with Accenture, families and volunteers planted trees and pollinator plants to enhance this green space.
Trail Maintenance Projects: We continued to improve trail access for all, ensuring these spaces remain inviting and enjoyable.
Will Moriaty (TREE Board Member), Tara Hubbard (Take MAR Co-Founder) and Ray Wunderlich at the City Beautiful Commission Awards.
Take MAR was grateful to win two notable awards in 2024:
St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce “Good Burger”
Sustainability Stewards Award
City Beautiful Commission Urban Forestry Award
Plus a nomination for Best of the Bay’s “Best Environmental Organization”, thanks to our amazing volunteers, partners and community!
We are also excited to announce the formation of our five committees:
TREE: By planting native trees, fostering connections with nature, and combating invasive species, we aim to regenerate our environment.
EGMONT KEY ALLIANCE: The purpose is to support and assist the efforts of the Florida Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife:
To regenerate, preserve and protect the island’s ecosystems
To preserve the natural and historic heritage
To develop visitor friendly educational and interpretive programs
BLUE: This initiative serves to safeguard the vitality and biodiversity of our oceans and coral reefs.
SUNLINE: The Pinellas ‘SUNLINE’ masterplan aims to unite stakeholders for effective public infrastructure, enhancing county-wide transit, fostering environmental consciousness, connecting communities with nature, and promoting economic opportunities for everyone.
REGENERATE RX: Regenerate Rx is focused on the healing powers of nature. Our vision is that natural healing is accessible and available to everyone.
🛠️ Restoration Efforts
4,400 Pounds of Invasive Species Removed
Clearing invasives helps native plants thrive, improving habitat for local wildlife.1,485 Pounds of Trash Removed
Dedicated cleanup efforts saved Florida’s natural spaces and provided an estimated $39.92 in waste removal cost savings.
🐢 Egmont Key
2024 was a great year for Take MAR’s Egmont Key Alliance Committee! Thanks to all of our members, we were able to take 51 volunteers out to the island this year for invasive weed removals, trash clean up and trail maintenance, among other things. This resulted in 950 pounds of invasives and 635 pounds of trash removed from the Wildlife Refuge! This is a huge win for the native biodiversity and wildlife that rely on the Island of Egmont Key as a place to seek shelter.
After the Island’s recent hit from both hurricanes Helene and Milton, we hope to continue our restoration efforts into 2025! Our goals include replanting lost trees, ramping up clean up efforts and spreading awareness of the beautiful treasure that is Egmont Key, so it gets the love and attention it so deserves.
🌊 Joining the International Coastal Cleanup
This year, Take MAR proudly participated in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) for the first time, and what an experience it was! Our volunteers rallied to clean up Shell Key Preserve and Egmont Key, removing hundreds of pounds of trash from these vital ecosystems. The data we collected on litter, including microplastics and bottle caps, was submitted to Ocean Conservancy as part of their global report.
This year, we have spearheaded new beach clean up initiatives, such as regular cleanups at Shell Key Preserve and post-hurricane recovery efforts to remove storm debris. These actions demonstrate our growing impact and dedication to safeguarding Florida’s coastlines.
🌧️Responding to Hurricanes: Recovery & Resilience
In 2024, Florida faced another challenging hurricane season, and Take MAR rose to the occasion. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we organized cleanups at Shell Key to address hurricane debris, ensuring that the preserve remains safe for wildlife and visitors alike.
Looking forward, our efforts will also focus on planting and restoring trees lost during hurricanes. These projects are vital not only for replacing canopy loss but also for building climate resilience in our communities.
For more information on how you can contribute to our canopy recovery fundraiser, click the button below:
👥 Volunteer Power
320 Volunteers
Our volunteers are the heart of everything we do, contributing a combined $34,980.31 in volunteer hours.Trail Maintenance Cost Savings: $27,450
Volunteers helped maintain Florida’s trails, saving money while improving access to nature and creating a strong foundation for our Sunline Initiative.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we celebrate the successes of 2024, we’re also looking to the future. Our goals for 2025 include expanding tree planting projects, organizing more coastal cleanups, and continuing restoration work at Egmont and Shell Key Preserve, while connecting people with nature.
Get Involved in 2025!
Want to join the movement? Whether you’re an individual looking to volunteer or a company interested in sponsoring an event, we’d love to work with you! Visit our upcoming events page by clicking “Get Involved” down below to learn more.
Together, we’re building a brighter, greener future—one project at a time!
