Wildlife Center Fire Relief - Forward Foundation

The Forward Foundation Offers to Match $75,000 in Donations to Save Wildlife Animal Rescue

In the wake of a heartbreaking fire that ravaged Madeira Beach’s beloved Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center, The Michael and Robin Lally Forward Foundation pledges to match up to $75,000 in donations from generous individuals and businesses, for a total donation of $150,000, to aid in the rebuilding and revival of the essential wildlife sanctuary.

The Discovery Center was home to 258 rescues, ranging from alligators, lizards, small mammals, amphibians, turtles and tortoises, and other fresh and saltwater marine life. The fire, which struck the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center on July 13th, left the facility in ruins and tragically killed 123 of the exotic animals that resided there.

Photos courtesy of Sonny Flynn

Photo courtesy of Madeira Beach Fire Department

“We were deeply saddened to hear about the devastating fire. My hope is that the outpouring of support from our community and beyond allows the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center to rebuild, heal, and continue their important work.”

-Robin Lally, President of The Forward Foundation

The matching donation campaign to raise the needed funds is set to run from now through the end of September 2023, during which every dollar donated by the public will be matched by The Forward Foundation up to the generous combined total of $150,000. Donations can be made securely through the rescue’s website or by a check payable to John’s Pass Rescue, the 501(c)3 arm of the wildlife animal rescue.
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Online Donations can be made on the rescue’s website: AlligatorWildlife.com

Checks can be mailed to:
…..John’s Pass Rescue
…..12971 Village Blvd.
…..Madeira Beach, FL 33708

The wildlife center hopes to reopen its doors to the public on Thanksgiving weekend and chose this date intentionally. The center’s co-owner, Sonny Flynn said, “We want to reopen on Thanksgiving weekend because we are grateful for what we had, and are grateful for what we have. Words cannot express how fortunate we are to have the public come together to help us.”

Dozens of animals killed in fire at Alligator Wildlife Discovery Center in Madeira Beach: ‘It’s devastating’

MADIERA BEACH, Fla. (Fox 13)- The owner of the Alligator Wildlife Discovery Center in Madeira Beach is mourning the loss of nearly 40 animals after a fire tore through the facility at Johns Pass in Madeira Beach early Thursday morning.

‘They didn’t deserve this’: Dozens of animals die in fire at Madeira Beach wildlife center’

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MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (ABC) — An early morning fire caused significant damage at the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center in Madeira Beach at John’s Pass Village and left dozens of animals dead, according to officials.

A Florida wildlife center says it lost ‘nearly all’ of its animals in a fire: ‘We are devastated’

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(CNN) — A Florida wildlife center was badly damaged and “nearly all” of its animals were killed in an overnight fire, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the wildlife center said.

Multiple animals killed in Alligator & Wildlife Center fire; surviving animals moved

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MADEIRA BEACH, FLA. (BayNews9) — A number of animals were killed overnight after a fire broke out inside of the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center in John’s Pass.