UNITED BLACK FUND DIFFERENCE-MAKERS DAYS
Monday, January 16 – Friday, January 27, 10am – 5pm
Learn, support & save!
Greater Cleveland Aquarium and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland Inc. (UBF) launched their annual Martin Luther King Jr Day friend- and fund-raising partnership 8 years ago. Due to a short-term mid-January stingray touch pool filtration improvement project that could briefly impact Coastal Boardwalk Gallery guest traffic flow in the Aquarium, the 1-day cooperative outreach campaign is being extended to a nearly 2-week timespan to provide ample space and opportunity for guests to learn about and contribute to this important organization.
Admission during Difference-Makers Days January 16 – 27, 2023, will be reduced temporarily to $14.95 for adults and $8.95 for children ages 2-12, and $1 from each ticket sold will be donated directly to UBF.* Additionally, guests are invited to make roundup donations or “Text to Give” by sending UBF to 50155.
During the course of this longstanding partnership more than 12,000 Aquarium-goers have donated to Ohio’s only Black federated human services organization. United Black Fund empowers nonprofit agencies addressing issues of race, diversity, equity, inclusion, poverty and social justice in Northeast Ohio. Over the past several years the transformation-driven organization has begun sharing its knowledge and replicable programs to make a global impact. “The resources UBF provides are expanding by leaps and bounds,” explains UBF President & CEO Cecil J. Lipscomb, CNM, adding “Just as critical as supporting education, workforce development and basic needs programs is learning, sharing, teaching and helping others establish sustainable activities to build stronger communities.”
“At the Aquarium we often point out how human actions impact the natural world but partnering with United Black Fund gives us the chance to celebrate people making a difference for people,” says Aquarium GM Stephanie White. Signage throughout the Aquarium will share stories of African Americans breaking down barriers in science—like trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Ernest Everett Just whose career journey is still inspiring non-white students to pursue careers in biomedical professions, or mother-and-daughter duo Dr. Nevada and Taylor-Simon Winrow who started the Black Girls Dive Foundation, cultivating the next generation of researchers, conservationists and planetary stewards.
“UBF can’t accomplish its goals alone and our partnership with this family-friendly STEM destination provides another opportunity to engage the community,” says Lipscomb. “Martin Luther King, Jr. said life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ Our answer is, ‘We will continue to show you.’”
To learn more about the United Black Fund, visit unitedblackfund.org.