On August 6, Gecko’s Hospitality Group (GHG) presented a check for $11,070 to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in front of the Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA), which is set to open soon at Nathan Benderson Park.
This donation is part of a partnership between GHG and Mote, through which proceeds from GHG’s signature philanthropic cocktail, the Shark Lady, directly support Mote’s world-class marine science research. The cocktail contains a mix of rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and sour mix (with a gummy shark on top)! Since the specialty drink’s launch in 2018, GHG has donated approximately $76,000 to Mote through this initiative.
The Shark Lady cocktail is named in honor of Mote’s Founding Director, Dr. Eugenie “Genie” Clark. Known worldwide as “The Shark Lady,” Dr. Clark was a pioneering ichthyologist who made groundbreaking discoveries about shark behavior, intelligence, and ecology. Her work helped dispel harmful myths about sharks and other apex predators, and her legacy continues to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.
