Like many young girls, Sabrina Marelli looks up to her mother. Throughout childhood, she observed and admired her mother working in a scuba diving shop in Delaware, US, advancing up the ranks to become a skilled diver, master scuba instructor, and eventually dive center manager. At just ten years old, Sabrina followed in her mom’s steps and earned her open water scuba certification.

Sabrina had always loved the ocean and the sea life within it, but when she started learning about many of the challenges faced in ocean environments while in school, she became interested in marine conservation. The more she learned, the stronger she grew in her conviction that she must take action to help protect it. When a school teacher assigned her class the task of developing a community project that gives back, Sabrina saw the perfect opportunity to take action for ocean protection.

Sabrina decided to incorporate a Finathon fundraiser into her upcoming Bat Mitzvah celebration. She had planned a get-together with her friends and family, many of whom were swimmers just like herself, and she saw the perfect chance to use the opportunity to make a positive impact for ocean protection. In lieu of traditional partying and gift giving, Sabrina organized a Bat Mitzvah swim contest and celebration, asking friends and family to make donations to support Project AWARE’s shark and ray protection and marine debris programs. With the generous support of her network, she raised $934 for ocean conservation! Her guests couldn’t be prouder.

At just twelve, Sabrina has become a marine activist and leader in her community. She is well aware of the significance of our symbiotic relationship with the ocean and its health, and strives to education her friends and family as often as possible.

She shares, “Ocean protection is important because all of the animals in the ocean are living – they deserve a good life just like us. The ocean and all of the organisms and food chains in it keep us on earth. Without them, we would not be here.”

Encouraging others to take action, she adds, “I would like the public to know that we need the ocean, and there are things you can do to help!”

Project AWARE thanks Sabrina and her friends and family for supporting our ocean protection programs through Finathon.

Visit finathon.org to host your own fundraiser today!