University of Georgia

Support UGAMI

Donate

Thank you for considering a gift to UGAMI. Operation of the Institute would not be possible without a combination of support from the State of Georgia, user fees, grants from federal and local agencies, and donations from private individuals and foundations.

Your contribution will be put to good use in support of our primary mission: research and education in coastal ecosystems. In doing so, you will help us to retain our position as one of the nation’s premier field laboratories.

Please contact us if you are interested in making a gift toward our fundraising initiatives. We will match your interests with UGAMI’s needs.

Friends of UGAMI

Joining the Friends of UGAMI is one of the easiest ways to become involved with the Marine Institute. Membership fees and other donations are tax deductible and are used to support the Marine Institute. Volunteers from the Friends group also take on special projects and help with larger fundraising efforts.

clock on main lab

Historic clock repair

In 2016, the Friends raised money to fix the clock that is mounted on the front of the main lab. This was originally a Seth Thomas clock that dates from 1937!

turkey fountain

Turkey fountain restoration

The turkey fountain that is located on the main quad at UGAMI was designed by German sculptor Fritz Zimmer on a commission from R.J. Reynolds in 1936. This elaborate, unique structure has three levels and was originally supplied by an artesian well. The Friends are raising money and working with volunteers to install new plumbing and a recirculating pump so that the fountain can flow once again.

Student Interns

Summer interns

The Friends routinely provides support for a summer intern. Over the past few years, this intern has worked with the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems program on a wide variety of projects.

The Friends also host work weekends
Teal boardwalk

Maintenance of the Teal boardwalk

The boardwalk that was used by John Teal in the 1950s when he was conducting his groundbreaking research on the energy budget of a salt marsh is located at UGAMI. A group of volunteers from the Friends has been keeping it in good repair.

Sears cottage

Renovating the Sears cottage

Sapelo has several kit houses that were purchased from Sears and Roebuck in the 1930s. One of these was built near Reynold’s Mansion and Azalea Cottage. The Friends have embarked on a multi-year project to repair this 3-bedroom cottage so that it can once again house UGAMI guests.

Signs for the water garden

The Friends received funding in 2016 from the Garden Club of Georgia to install interpretive signs at the site of the water garden (a.k.a. “alligator pond”), which was originally installed by Howard Coffin in the 1920s.