CHARITY OF THE WEEK

The Sea Turtle Conservancy (conserve​turtles.org) is a Florida-based organization dedicated to the study and protection of endangered sea turtles in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Founded in 1959 to save sea turtles from extinction, the STC combats natural and man-made threats to the creatures through research, habitat protection, and public education. The organization trains volunteers to participate in studies on the coast of Costa Rica, where they measure and tag turtles, count eggs, and mark nests to deter poachers. By strapping GPS transmitters to turtles’ shells, researchers track their migratory paths in order to prevent conflicts with commercial fisheries, pollution, and shell poachers. The STC website features a turtle tracker, as well as an Adopt-a-Turtle program.
The charity  has earned a four-star overall rating from Charity Navigator, which ranks not-for-profit organizations on the strength of their finances, their control of administrative and fund-raising expenses, and the transparency of their operations. Four stars is the group’s highest ranking.