KINGHAM, Province of Grassadellia--Governor Donna Almone took a dunk in the pool, but it was for a good cause.
The governor made a pledge with the state's K-6 school children, that if they raised more than $1 million in donations for the week-long I-Heart-the-Ocean environmental awareness campaign, she would swim with dolphins and "arm-wrestle a crab."
And Almone made good on that promise Friday.
POG K-6 students raised a whopping over $1.7 million for the campaign, more than $700,000 the target amount.
"I'm blown away by the generosity of our kids in POG. They raised more than $1.7 million dollars to help protect our oceans and the animals in the oceans. That tells me that we have some very sharing, caring, and generous young people that care about the environment and care about protecting nature," Almone said in a pre-pool interview.
The governor then spoke directly to school children during a live state-wide telecast. She thanked them for their generous donations.
"I want to thank all you children, each and every one of you, for giving your pennies and dimes and nickels and quarters, and dollars to this project. And I want to thank your teachers and your moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and any other family members or grown ups in your lives that helped you too. Because of your generosity and the money you gave, we will be able to help protect the ocean and its animals for the future, so that when you grow up someday, your children will be able to enjoy the ocean and all the wonderful animals that depend upon it too," said Almone.
Minutes later, donning a wet suit, the governor slipped into a pool with three adolescent dolphins, named Nellie, Periwinkle, and Junior.
"Aren't these little guys cute?" she laughed. "They're so friendly."
Hundreds of elementary students were on-hand to watch in person, and children that attended the event got to pet dolphins and other wildlife as well.
The Royal Quay Aquarium and aquariums across the province are also offering discount tickets to primary schools as part of the promotion.
Almone called the event "the most fun I've had in years," and joked that she was relieved "no one had to see me in my bathing suit."
The governor's office says it hopes to do a similar promotion about forest health and protecting animals that live in the forests of the province.
"The ocean is a big part of the ecosystem, but we realize not every child in POG lives close to the coast. Every part of the ecosystem is important, and we hope to highlight the importance of the forests and grasslands as well in the future, to help make it more relevant for children from all parts of the province," said Jalie Kohana, a spokeswoman for the governor.
During the event, the governor also gave awards to several teachers from across the province. The fundraising event was optional, and about 60% of POG's elementary schools, public and private, participated.
The governor made a pledge with the state's K-6 school children, that if they raised more than $1 million in donations for the week-long I-Heart-the-Ocean environmental awareness campaign, she would swim with dolphins and "arm-wrestle a crab."
And Almone made good on that promise Friday.
POG K-6 students raised a whopping over $1.7 million for the campaign, more than $700,000 the target amount.
"I'm blown away by the generosity of our kids in POG. They raised more than $1.7 million dollars to help protect our oceans and the animals in the oceans. That tells me that we have some very sharing, caring, and generous young people that care about the environment and care about protecting nature," Almone said in a pre-pool interview.
The governor then spoke directly to school children during a live state-wide telecast. She thanked them for their generous donations.
"I want to thank all you children, each and every one of you, for giving your pennies and dimes and nickels and quarters, and dollars to this project. And I want to thank your teachers and your moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and any other family members or grown ups in your lives that helped you too. Because of your generosity and the money you gave, we will be able to help protect the ocean and its animals for the future, so that when you grow up someday, your children will be able to enjoy the ocean and all the wonderful animals that depend upon it too," said Almone.
Minutes later, donning a wet suit, the governor slipped into a pool with three adolescent dolphins, named Nellie, Periwinkle, and Junior.
"Aren't these little guys cute?" she laughed. "They're so friendly."
Hundreds of elementary students were on-hand to watch in person, and children that attended the event got to pet dolphins and other wildlife as well.
The Royal Quay Aquarium and aquariums across the province are also offering discount tickets to primary schools as part of the promotion.
Almone called the event "the most fun I've had in years," and joked that she was relieved "no one had to see me in my bathing suit."
The governor's office says it hopes to do a similar promotion about forest health and protecting animals that live in the forests of the province.
"The ocean is a big part of the ecosystem, but we realize not every child in POG lives close to the coast. Every part of the ecosystem is important, and we hope to highlight the importance of the forests and grasslands as well in the future, to help make it more relevant for children from all parts of the province," said Jalie Kohana, a spokeswoman for the governor.
During the event, the governor also gave awards to several teachers from across the province. The fundraising event was optional, and about 60% of POG's elementary schools, public and private, participated.
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