Part of the magic of animals and marine life is the connections that can be made regardless of background, location, or means. Kids of all ages find comfort and creativity in the variety nature has to offer us. Few marine animals capture the imagination as much as the manta ray. With massive wing-like fins spanning up to 29 feet and a wide mouth flanked by distinctive lobes, manta rays are among the most recognizable and majestic.

No wonder manta rays caught the attention of Tiffany Holloway's five-year-old son, Jonas. What started as a simple birthday request evolved into a touching example of how a community can come together to help both humans and animals in times of need.

Making a Manta Ray: A Mother's Craft Takes Off

Tiffany Holloway is no stranger to resourcefulness. To get ideas for frugal spending and make every dollar go as far as possible, she joined a popular Reddit community called r/povertyfinance. Little did she know that a post of her own in that forum would go viral.

Sharing a tip for taking the old to make the new, Holloway posted a recently completed craft project. Her son, Jonas, had asked her for a stuffed manta ray for his fifth birthday. Unable to afford a new one, Holloway converted her son's baby blanket into a one-of-a-kind manta ray, right down to button eyes.

Online response was supportive as other Redditors commented on her creativity, the meaning behind the handmade gift, and the manta ray's overwhelming cuteness. And with over 66,000 likes, the post's support also came in an unexpected form: hundreds of donated toy manta rays. Members of the Reddit community bombarded the family with soft toys to help Jonas celebrate his birthday. Donations also started pouring in, with one Reddit reader offering to pay for Jonas' first trip to an aquarium to see a real manta ray for the very first time.

Giving Back: Turning Attention into Action

Holloway wasn't the only one to notice that the attention had spiraled nearly out of control on Reddit. She soon received calls from The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Ellen Show as the media wanted to get her take on the experience. As the attention - and the squids, manta rays, sharks, and cuttlefish - piled up, Holloway realized that there was a larger opportunity at hand.

Holloway asked her son what he would like to do to help give back to others and make the most of the kindness they were receiving. Jonas was clear: he wanted to help the mantas and the rays. To fulfill this next wish for her son, Holloway turned to SeaWorld.

Known for conservation efforts and animal rescues, SeaWorld was a clear choice for Holloway. Not only can guests experience close encounters with rays in naturalistic aquariums, SeaWorld has a long history of marine life education and advocacy for manta rays. Holloway asked SeaWorld how she could use her small spotlight and viral moment to help ocean animals on behalf of her son.

SeaWorld directed Holloway to their Conservation Fund, designed to help support the worldwide rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life. Donations go directly toward efforts to save the lives of marine animals and preserve their natural habitats. Holloway took to TikTok and various media outlets to share the message: having made a manta ray, Jonas and his mom now wanted to help save as many as possible with help from the community. Rather than continuing to receive funds herself, despite her circumstances, Holloway asked that donations be directed toward the SeaWorld Conservation Fund as they approach a milestone of saving nearly 40,000 animals worldwide.

Celebrating a Special Birthday at SeaWorld Orlando

After providing Holloway and her followers with the details on the Conservation Fund, SeaWorld made sure to celebrate Jonas' birthday in style. The family was invited to SeaWorld Orlando, where they were treated to a VIP experience and guided tour. Led throughout the park through exhibits and behind-the-scenes access by VP of Zoological Operations and Head of SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Jon Peterson, the Holloway's learned about the park's ongoing rescue and conservation efforts for animals of all kinds, including Jonas' beloved manta rays.

Staff and zoo ambassadors across the park's many exhibits went out of their way to make the day truly special for the whole family. They encountered sting rays, manatees, and seals up close with opportunities to interact directly with dolphins and penguins. Jonas and his brothers even had the chance to feed and bark alongside sea lions.

SeaWorld Conservation Fund and How You Can Help

Established in 2003 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit private foundation, the SeaWorld Conservation Fund has provided over $18 million in grants for conservation projects. One hundred percent of donations support animal rescue, habitat protection, and conservation education.

SeaWorld's history of animal advocacy dates well before the Conservation Fund was founded. For over 50 years, SeaWorld has been a leader in wildlife conservation. Partnering with state, local, and federal agencies as well as organizations worldwide, SeaWorld's Animal Rescue Teams have helped over 39,000 sick or injured animals with the goal of restoring their health and returning them to the wild.

Manta rays in particular were listed as a threatened species by NOAA Fisheries in 2018. Danger to these animals comes from accidental injury and bycatch as well as game fishers seeking the ray's gill rakers for trade and use in non-traditional medicines. With low reproductive rates and increasing human threats, they remain at risk for decreasing numbers and inability to overcome population losses over time.

Tiffany and Jonas both hope that the continued contributions from Reddit and the broader community will help further conservation and research efforts to protect and preserve these amazing marine animals.

Learn more about how you can contribute to SeaWorld's Conservation Fund to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and return of marine animals.

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