Born to Give
It seems as if Pamela Siderski was born to give. She and her second husband, Charlie, have lived here for just four years, but she has been a whirlwind at Mote Marine Laboratory.
Pamela quickly qualified as an Aquarium docent, became a member of Mote's Advisory Council and Education Committee, and worked in the Dolphin Whale and Sea Turtle Hospital, helping to raise $5,000 to support these animals she so dearly loves. It doesn't stop there. Pamela also aids Mote's development office in fundraising efforts that support Mote's research and education. Together, Pamela and Charlie make annual donations to Mote, promoting and participating in the 36-hour Giving Challenge.
Motivating a Giving Heart
For many, the sights, sounds and smells of what you experience early in life shapes the interests and attitudes you carry for the rest of your life. In New Jersey where she was born, Pamela's family often took her to the shore—her first exposure to the salt sea and its creatures. Growing up, she never lost this fascination.
Pamela graduated from Upsala College with a degree in theater arts, married, bore two lovely children, and settled in Cape Ann on Massachusetts's North Shore. There she turned her natural compassion for others and a talent for fundraising into a career-running her own nonprofit company. She ultimately became executive director of the Cape Ann chapter of the Red Cross in Gloucester.
Living in this important fishing port rekindled Pamela's interest in the sea. She worked with the U.S. Coast Guard on a program to teach fisherman—many of whom could not even swim—safety measures to help them survive in dangerous seas. Her children also inherited her love of the ocean world as the family explored the beautiful New England Coast where they lived.
Caring for the Marine World
After Pamela divorced, she married Charlie, a veteran from the Vietnam War, who in his quiet way shares her interest and unbounded enthusiasm for all things marine. Together they moved to help ensure Mote's future as a world-class research center. Pamela and Charlie are members of the Mote Marine Laboratory Legacy Society, and have included a bequest in their will to leave a percentage of their estate to Mote.
There are many ways you can support Mote Marine Laboratory research and education in your estate plans. We can help you design a plan that fits your circumstances. Please contact The Development Office at 941-388-4441, Ext. 309 or plannedgiving@mote.org to discuss your options.