KURE BEACH, N.C (February 25, 2025) |
SECU Foundation has awarded a $2 million capital grant to the North Carolina Aquarium Society, contributing to the expansion of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF). The development project will increase the interactive space at the state’s most visited aquarium and include a new education center to serve North Carolina students.
Operated under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the North Carolina Aquariums include three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier. They welcome more than 1.4 million visitors annually. About 500,000 of those guests visit NCAFF, including tens of thousands of students, who visit on field trips. Through engaging and immersive educational activities, the Aquariums foster a deeper understanding and connection to aquatic environments with the hope that visitors are inspired to protect them.
“We are so pleased to be a part of the expansion of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher,” said SECU Foundation Board Vice Chair Mona Moon. “With the SECU Foundation grant and the support of many others in the community, improvements made to this landmark Aquarium will propel it to a world-class facility for our state. With a new education center and other exciting additions to be announced later this year, even more visitors from all corners of our state and beyond can engage with our coastal ecosystems and aquatic environments.”
“On behalf of the North Carolina Aquarium Society, we are immensely grateful for this generous grant from the SECU Foundation,” said Society Board Chair Drew Covert. “Among other exciting renovation plans, this grant will fund the creation of a new educational center – one that extends beyond the Aquarium walls to provide truly immersive experiences for students in North Carolina who need it most.”
“We are honored to have the ongoing support of the North Carolina Aquarium Society and their important collaborative work with partners like the SECU Foundation to bolster the North Carolina Aquariums,” said North Carolina Aquarium Division Director Hap Fatzinger. “The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher renovation and expansion is the most consequential project since the creation of the marine resource centers nearly 50 years ago. We are excited for what’s ahead and the lasting impact this will have on our state.”
