The Florida Aquarium Secures $3 Million Gift from The Mosaic Company for Expansion

August 23, 2024

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Tampa, FL – (August 23, 2024) The Florida Aquarium is celebrating a significant milestone in its current $45 million expansion project, thanks to a generous $3 million donation from The Mosaic Company. As part of this partnership, Mosaic becomes the presenting sponsor for the upcoming Sea Lion Exhibit, further solidifying its longstanding commitment to the Aquarium and the Tampa Bay community. It is one of the first leadership gifts and the largest corporate investment in the Sea Change capital campaign.

“The Florida Aquarium is immensely grateful for Mosaic’s incredible generosity and unwavering support,” said Roger Germann, President and CEO of The Florida Aquarium. “This leadership gift as part of our capital campaign will significantly enhance our ability to educate, inspire, and connect our guests with marine wildlife by bringing California sea lions to the West Coast of Florida for the first time. Mosaic’s commitment to our shared purpose exemplifies their dedication to environmental stewardship and community partnership.”

This gift from Mosaic is its first multi-million-dollar community investment since Bruce Bodine became President and CEO in January.

“This partnership exemplifies the power of public-private collaborations in driving meaningful change,” said Bruce Bodine, President and CEO of The Mosaic Company. “The Florida Aquarium’s focus on conservation and protecting Florida’s waterways and wildlife aligns perfectly with Mosaic’s mission to help the world grow the food it needs, with responsibility at the forefront. We are proud to support the Aquarium’s efforts and contribute to the care and wellbeing of the animals.”

Major Gift and Exhibit Sponsorship

The Mosaic Company’s substantial contribution will play a pivotal role in the expansion project at The Florida Aquarium—the largest expansion in the Aquarium’s 29-year history. Plans include several exciting new experiences for guests, most notably a grand outdoor sea lion habitat to be added in the final phase of construction in the next three years.

• Phase 1: The MORPH’D exhibition presented by PAR, which opened last summer on the second floor in the Mosaic Exhibit Hall, offers an immersive experience with interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and engaging animals who have adapted over time to survive.
• Phase 2: A redesigned second floor mezzanine with an expansive touch experience that triples the size of the current exhibit, a new tide pool water feature, and aquatic lounge for guests to relax with food and drinks.
• Phase 3: The only Pacific Puffin exhibit in Florida presented by the Vinik Family Foundation. The habitat, complete with a kelp forest and other fish species, will transport guests to a rugged coast with multiple viewing windows to enjoy these fun-to-watch birds.
• Phase 4: The sea lion exhibit, presented by Mosaic, will mimic the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest and bring California sea lions to the west coast of Florida for the first time. The project will also expand the Aquarium’s African penguin habitat.

Mosaic’s Longstanding Support

Mosaic has been a dedicated supporter of The Florida Aquarium since the Aquarium’s inception at Channelside in Downtown Tampa in 1995. The partnership has continued to thrive with the company’s in-kind contribution of 42 million gallons of ocean saltwater since 2004, which is critical for the care of the Aquarium’s animals. This water is transported via barge from the Gulf of Mexico, with each shipment containing approximately 300,000 gallons—a total value of more than $5 million over the past two decades.

As a community partner, Mosaic has been involved in various aspects of the Aquarium’s growth and success, from infrastructure and expansion projects to school field trip sponsorships and board leadership.

• In 2012, Mosaic supported the Rising Tides capital campaign with a $2.5M investment, enabling the Aquarium to expand and construct Mosaic Center, an event space.
• The Mosaic Center became the Mosaic Exhibit Hall in 2023 with the opening of the MORPH’D Gallery as part of the Aquarium’s multi-year capital expansion and renovation project.
• The Mosaic Company’s Vice President of Public Affairs, Benjamin Pratt, joined the Aquarium’s Board of Directors early last year.