09/02/2026
So far in 2026, the North American region experienced its second-warmest June on record, according to a report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Land and ocean average temperatures reached 1.09°C (1.96°F) above average, raising concerns among environmental and wildlife conservation and rehabilitation researchers across the region, particularly in New York State. Maxine Montello, executive director of the New York Marine Rescue Center, has led the center through the past several years as it has experienced a sudden increase in marine animals requiring treatment and rehabilitation for a variety of reasons, including ailments associated with a changing climate.
“When turtles experience a sudden change in water temperatures, they’re at risk of developing pneumonia,” Montello told our team during a visit to the center’s facilities. The center responds to marine animals in need of rescue across Long Island’s shores and also receives animals from other areas across New York State, working in partnership with the New York State government.
For the Spring 2026 grant cycle, the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation was proud to award a $25,000 grant to the New York Marine Rescue Center and the Riverhead Foundation to support their rescue, rehabilitation, and research initiatives. The protection and preservation of our environment and wildlife are among the many priorities the foundation is committed to supporting now and in the future as communities around the world contend with a warming and increasingly unpredictable climate.
