Running for Vineyard Ecosystems

My name is Riley Ament and I am a junior at Brookline High School in Massachusetts. In August, I will be running the Falmouth Road Race in support of the Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group. I will be interning at MVSG this summer and I have been very connected to the Vineyard or my whole life through my grandparents, who live there for most of the year. The beautiful outdoor spaces and marine life on the island have always been important to me. Now, more than ever, it is important that we work to sustain them in the face of challenges like climate change and environmental destruction. Please read below for more information on MVSG and know that your donation is going towards protecting the Vineyard for many years to come.

The Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group (MVSG), Inc. is a 501(c)3 that was incorporated in 1976 to preserve and ensure the island's traditional shellfisheries for the economic, ecological, and social well-being of Martha's Vineyard. Working with the six island towns, MVSG operates two hatcheries and one nursery to grow tens of millions of shellfish seed each year. Those seed are distributed to town shellfish departments to populate in-shore salt ponds. In addition to growing seed, MVSG utilizes public and private funds to operate a number of programs. Currently, they have a shell recovery program to restore oyster habitat and fight ocean acidification. They participate in grant-funded research projects with regional universities. They are actively working to restore bay scallop habitat by planting eelgrass beds, and they run education and outreach programs in the schools and broader community.

Every donation is fully tax-deductible and is pivotal to supporting the organization's mission. For more information, please see their website: mvshellfishgroup. Thank you so much for your time and your donation.