At Company Distilling, we believe in the power of community and the difference it makes when people come together to support one another. This October, we are honored to announce that Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge has been selected as a recipient of our Gather Around Giving Grant.

About Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge

Based on a 2.3-acre campus in Navarre, Florida, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) is the community’s resource for wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education, as well as emergency response for stranded marine mammals along the Gulf Coast. Since opening their Navarre campus in 2019, ECWR has provided medical care and rehabilitation to nearly 2,000 injured, orphaned, or sick native Florida wildlife patients each year, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild. Their mission centers on three pillars – education, conservation, and rehabilitation – all working together for the welfare of Northwest Florida’s natural fauna.

Services Offered

  • Rehabilitation: With the help of medical staff, interns, and volunteers, ECWR provides medical care and rehabilitation to almost 2,000 injured or orphaned native Florida species each year, working toward the goal of releasing every patient back into the wild.
  • Conservation: ECWR’s marine mammal and sea turtle stranding team is on call 365 days a year, responding to over 20 stranded dolphins, whales, and sea turtles annually along the beaches of Santa Rosa, Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.
  • Education: Through their on-site Education Center and outreach programs, ECWR teaches the local Gulf Coast community, tourists, and school groups about the unique ecology of the Emerald Coast and the importance of coexisting with native wildlife. Visitors can meet ECWR’s animal ambassadors and learn their stories firsthand.

Impact

Each year, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge cares for nearly 2,000 injured, orphaned, or sick native Florida wildlife patients, while their stranding team responds to more than 20 stranded marine mammals and sea turtles along the Gulf Coast. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ECWR’s work is made possible by the generosity of donors, community members, and local businesses – support that translates directly into animals rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild.

How You Can Support Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge

Your support helps ECWR continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and educating the community about Florida’s native wildlife. Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate: Monetary donations – given directly through their website, PayPal, or by mail – fund the medical care and rehabilitation ECWR provides to nearly 2,000 animals each year.
  • Give Non-Monetary Donations: ECWR maintains an Amazon wish list and donation list of items they’re always in need of to help care for their patients and ambassador animals.
  • Volunteer: ECWR offers volunteer opportunities across their animal care department, education department, and maintenance team – with volunteer orientations held regularly for anyone ready to get involved.
  • Buy a Brick: Become part of ECWR’s legacy by purchasing a brick for the pathway connecting their Education and Medical Centers, directly supporting their mission of education, conservation, and rehabilitation.
  • Visit: Stop by the Education Center (Wednesday-Saturday, 9am-3pm, and Sunday, 11am-3pm) to meet ECWR’s animal ambassadors and learn about their species, backstories, and rehabilitation journeys.

Join Us in Making a Difference

At Company Distilling, our Gather Around Giving program empowers communities by supporting organizations like Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. We invite you to join us in this mission. By supporting ECWR, you help give injured and orphaned wildlife a second chance and help preserve the natural fauna of Northwest Florida for generations to come.

Visit Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge’s website to learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can help more of Florida’s wild neighbors find their way home.

Company Distilling’s Gather Around Giving program supports nonprofits that create positive change in their communities. To learn more about our initiatives and how you can participate, visit our Gather Around Giving page.