Stephen Colbert Answered Our Call

Dear Friends:

A few years ago, our team heard Stephen Colbert mention on the Strike Force Five podcast that, as a child, he dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. We immediately started imagining ways to invite him to join our team as an advocate for marine mammals.

When news broke that The Late Show was coming to an end and Stephen would be heading home to Charleston, we decided it was time to make our move. So, we went big with our outreach – billboard big.

In partnership with our generous friends at the Charleston-based Adams Outdoor Advertising, we invited the longtime late-night host to fulfill his dream by joining our team and helping raise much-needed support for Charleston’s dolphins and the critical conservation work happening in his hometown waters.

One billboard message read:

What happened next was remarkable.

Our job offer quickly spread around town and online. And then, in his final Late Show monologue, Stephen responded by saying, “it is really flattering to be considered.” He went on to spotlight the dolphins and our extraordinary team of scientists at the National Marine Mammal Foundation.

It was an incredible moment, not just for our team but for everyone who cares about marine mammal conservation.

There’s something joyful about imagining Stephen sailing away from late-night television toward a life inspired by childhood aspirations and improving the lives of beloved dolphins. Honestly, it may just be the hug we all needed.

The timing couldn’t have been better. As many of you know, this past year has been extremely difficult for conservation organizations like ours, as federal funding priorities have shifted. We need the public’s support now more than ever to continue our important work and to help protect the animals we hold dear.

Charleston is home base for our marine mammal rescue team and our expert field biologists who have been studying dolphins for decades. They are on call 24/7, responding to sick and injured marine mammals, investigating environmental threats that impact ocean health, and inspiring future conservation leaders through hands-on STEM experiences.

We hope this light-hearted moment transforms into a powerful movement for marine conservation, as more people learn about our efforts to protect marine mammals around the world.

If you missed it, you can watch Stephen’s monologue mention here:

News outlets across the country have highlighted the story. You can read the latest article here:

We’re grateful to have you as an important member of our Foundation family, supporting our essential work…and the occasional humorous billboard idea.

We invite you to join us in creating a wave of action. You can “Join Stephen’s Team” here:

We can’t wait to see what happens next.