Parktails Raises Almost $22,000 for Florida’s National Parks

Through ticket purchases, auction bids, and donations, allies for Florida’s national parks helped us raise almost $22,000 through Parktails, our first-ever virtual event!

An evening of virtual cocktails and tales from Florida’s national parks, Parktails was hosted by WPLG Local 10 News’ Louis Aguirre and offered a talk-show style discussion covering such topics as Women in the Wilderness, Recreators Turned Rescuers, and The Future of Florida Bay, as well as a dive into what’s new with the organization as The Alliance, with opening remarks from Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County.

“Women in the Wilderness” advocated that the outdoors is for everyone and featured Sabrina Diaz, deputy superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, and Dylann Turffs, a park ranger with the Everglades National Park education team. “Recreators to the Rescue” covered a recent plane crash in Everglades National Park where a group of campers became heroes and featured Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, Charlie Arazoza, and Jose Antonio Oliva, who was involved in the rescue efforts of that plane crash. “The Future of Florida Bay” featured Olin McKenzie, avid angler and retired dentist, and Benny Blanco, a professional fishing guide specializing in Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.

The $22,000 raised from Parktails will go to support more than 20 initiatives that The Alliance is involved in throughout Florida’s four national parks this year, including the rehabilitation of the Flamingo Visitor Center and its supporting facilities in Everglades National Park, python management in Big Cypress National Preserve, sea turtle monitoring in Dry Tortugas National Park, and the installation of mooring buoys in Biscayne National Park.

Special thank you to our Parktails sponsors: Guest Services, Inc. and Publix!

An encore of Parktails can be viewed on our YouTube page at https://youtu.be/ctLi3jw-3E8.