Monday, January 23, 2023
Soothe your Tortured Heart while Supporting a Worthy Cause
Virginia Beach, VA -- Some people celebrate Valentine’s Day with roses, candy, and expensive dinners. Not us! The Virginia Aquarium Foundation is launching the Love Bites Fundraiser today as a way for those who are not in a “happily ever after” relationship to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a humorous way. The jilted, the romantically rejected, or those who are enthusiastically celebrating their single status can symbolically name a feeder item, such as a rat, a worm, or a roach, which will be consumed by one of the Virginia Aquarium’s resident animals. Expanding on the popularity of the last year’s fundraiser, the 2023 Love Bites Fundraiser provides several options, all found online at https://one.bidpal.net/lovebites2023/welcome .
Between 9 am, January 23, 2023, and 12 noon, February 14, 2023 explore our menu of feeders, nominally priced between $5 and $50. Which one reminds you most of your ex? Is it the dead rat or fish? A creepy crawly cricket, roach, or worm? Or just a dull vegetable? Purchase a feeder item, and our residents will devour it. You’ll quickly receive a fun video of an animal eating that feeder item, and a valentine with your ex’s name that you can share on social media.
Did your ex really make last year difficult? Feeling the need for something extra? Opt for the $150 Love Bites Fundraiser personalized video to hear a customized message while you watch your “ex” disappear into the mouth of a happy animal. Of course, you’ll also receive a unique valentine to share as well. This opportunity is available to purchase between 9 am, January 23, 2023, and 11:59 pm, January 31, 2023, with the video and valentine sent to you no later than February 14, 2023. As this is customized, quantities are limited.
"Seal" your love this Valetine's with a framed, pink and red sparkly 11x14 seal painting done by Hector, one of the Aquarium's resident Harbor Seals. Don’t don’t delay, bidding on the seal painting starts 9 am, January 23, 2023, and ends 5 pm, February 10, 2023.
For the ultimate Love Bites Fundraiser experience, one lucky bidder will have the opportunity to witness, in person, a Love Bites Fundraiser Komodo dragon feeding during an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience on Valentine’s Day. This unique experience will be recorded, and the lucky bidder will receive a personalized, customized video highlighting the experience. Bidding for this experience begins 9 am, January 23, 2023 and ends 5 pm, February 10, 2023.
All proceeds raised through Love Bites Fundraiser will be used to help the Virginia Aquarium care for hundreds of animals, provide educational offerings, offer outreach programs to schools, conduct research and conservation activities, and operate our nationally recognized Stranding Response Program.
For details and specifics on the variety of options for the Love Bites Fundraiser, please visit https://one.bidpal.net/lovebites2023/welcome .
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research, and sustainable practices. The Virginia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The Aquarium is also a member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports the work of the Virginia Aquarium. The Foundation procures and maintains the Aquarium's exhibits, including the animals and habitats. It is also responsible for annual and capital fundraising, administration and funding for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program, conservation and scientific research efforts, and the Aquarium's mission-related education programs. You can be a part of our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to support our programming.
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