TURKS & CAICOS RESERVATIONS BECOMES A SUPPORTER OF THE TURKS & CAICOS REEF FUND
11 March 2014, Providenciales, TCI – The Turks & Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF) continues to gain financial support from businesses that rely on healthy coral reefs. The latest supporter is Turks & Caicos Reservations (TCR), a Providenciales-based vacation booking service for all the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Val Kalliecharan, Managing Director of Turks & Caicos Reservations said, “We were interested in finding a way that our “TCR Gives Back” program could support coral reef protection in the Turks & Caicos Islands. We thought of the TCRF who has been very active in supporting marine environmental protection throughout the TCI. We were excited to learn that the TCRF is a volunteer run, non-governmental agency dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and committed to using 85% of the funds they raise to support marine environmental programs.”
Turks & Caicos Reservations has kindly committed to donate a proportion of their gross profits from all reservations made with TCR during the month of March. “We are sincerely grateful to Val and TCR for their generous offer of support,” said Don Stark, Chairman of the TCRF. “This funding commitment will help us expand our program efforts in the TCI to include not just moorings and snorkel trails, but to continue to add new educational programs and support our advocacy efforts to help protect the marine environment of the TCI. Without our healthy reef systems, these islands would be very different places and would not have the healthy fish populations and lovely beaches that attract visitors.”
The TCRF has been active recently with the installation and/or repair of over 50 dive and snorkel boat moorings throughout the TCI. They have also initiated a installation program with DEMA (TCIG’s Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs) of large vessel moorings with the ultimate goal of providing standard moorings for large vessels visiting any of the islands within the TCI. TCRF has also been assisting DEMA with swim zone line maintenance and installation and will be doing extensive snorkel trail restoration work at the Bight Reef in front of Coral Gardens Resort later this spring.
ABOUT TCRF
Founded in 2010, the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund is an all volunteer-run organization that provides funding for education, research and conservation programs to individuals, organizations and agencies that help to preserve and protect the marine environment of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Our goal is to have at least 85% of all funds raised through voluntary contributions from divers and snorkelers visiting the Turks & Caicos Islands directed to the Fund’s programs.
Anyone wishing to donate or assist the TCRF in any way can contact them through their website, www.TCReef.org. Scuba divers visiting the islands are encouraged to make a $10 donation through the purchase of a dive tag that can be attached to their dive gear to show their support. Snorkelers visiting the islands can show their support through the $5 purchase of a pink or blue silicone wristband. A complete list of outlets for TCRF merchandise can be found on the organization’s website.
ABOUT TURKS & CAICOS RESERVATIONS
Turks and Caicos Reservations, an Island Reservations Ltd. company, is the only locally-based booking service for the Turks and Caicos Islands and offers full service vacation planning and booking. With locally-based agents available on the island seven days a week through toll-free phone, email, and live chat channels, Turks and Caicos Reservations provides the most comprehensive listing of accommodation options for the destination. Call 1-877-774-5486 or visit the Turks and Caicos website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Plus to learn more.