Sand Dollar Guild

Who We Are

Our mantra - “We have not inherited the ocean from our parents.... we are borrowing it from our children.”

We are a volunteer group within the Ocean Institute formed in 1988 to purchase the tall ship, Pilgrim, permanently on site at the Ocean Institute and have since raised more than $1.3 million. The Sand Dollar Guild has been key in fundraising for the Ocean Institute including: the Ocean Education Center, equipment for the R/V Sea Explorer, sails for the tall ships, the Ocean in Motion van, the Sand Dollar courtyard, the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, and STEM programs. Currently, we support the ongoing operation of the Ocean in Motion vans, mobile laboratories for outreach to special needs and under-served students.