Munchkin – Our Lead Sponsor

The Whale Sanctuary Project wouldn’t be possible without the very -generous support of our primary sponsor, Munchkin, Inc., the global leader in developing innovative, modern and credible products for babies and children “to make parents’ lives easier and more enjoyable by thinking of ‘the little things’.”

CEO and “Head Munchkin” Steven Dunn, has pledged $1 million toward the creation of a seaside sanctuary for orcas and beluga whales. Here’s how it came about.

In November 2015, two of our founding members, Naomi Rose and Samantha Berg, met Steven at a press conference in Santa Monica where Congressman Adam Schiff was announcing his plan to introduce legislation that would ban the captivity of orcas in the United States. Steven told them how he had recently reached out to SeaWorld, offering $1 million to help retire Tilikum to a seaside sanctuary, but that he’d never received a reply.

Naomi and Samantha told Steven about their involvement with a new organization, the Whale Sanctuary Project, which was setting out to create a sanctuary for orcas and belugas. Steven wanted to know more, and so, a few months later, he attended a day-long workshop at the 2016 Conference of Marine Mammalogy in San Francisco. The workshop, organized and led by Lori Marino and Naomi Rose, featured presentations by experts in various fields of creating sanctuary: from veterinary care to husbandry to engineering to law and policy.

As soon as the Whale Sanctuary Project was incorporated, and board member Charles Vinick had become our executive director, we sent Steven our strategic plan for creating the sanctuary and caring for orcas and belugas there. He responded with an initial grant from Munchkin of $200,000 so we could begin the process of finding a suitable location. And then, in each of the following two years, 2017 and 2018, Munchkin offered a challenge grant of $300,000 that was matched by our supporters.

How Munchkin’s CEO Embraced the Plight of Whales in Captivity

In this video, published by People magazine, Steven describes being “really disturbed on a number of fronts” when he saw the movie Blackfish:

From People magazine online

A month later, he says, he had to undergo the claustrophobic, noisy experience of an MRI scan. On the way back into the office, he says, “it really dawned on me that that’s how orcas must feel in captivity, in these concrete tanks.”

And so, determined to give the whales a better life, he launched Project Orca on the Munchkin website, removed the orca toy from their top-selling Sea Squirt Bath Toy collection, and explained this by saying: “Because a bathtub isn’t big enough for an orca.”

From Munchkin, Inc.

“Wild Love” Miracle® 360 Cups Teach Respect for Animals

In August 2019, Munchkin expanded its commitment to animal protection through a new line of its #1 selling Miracle® 360° cup, called “Wild Love,” designed to feature animals who need our help, including orcas. The cups, now available at retailers nationwide, help families teach children empathy and respect for animals while supporting the work of the Whale Sanctuary Project as well as to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The Munchkin Wild Love Orca cup supports the end of orca captivity for human entertainment and brings awareness to the thousands of whales killed each year due to entanglement in fishing nets. The packaging of the cups includes child-friendly stories and key facts about at-risk animals. In accordance with Munchkin’s goal to reduce the environmental impact of its products, the special packaging for the Wild Love cups is made of 100% recycled and recyclable material.

“Protecting animals and supporting the welfare of the planet are core beliefs of Munchkin,” says Steven. “Our partnerships with the Whale Sanctuary Project and IFAW deepen our commitment to a sustainable future for our children while encouraging empathy and compassion.”

When you purchase a Wild Love cup, you support Munchkin’s donations to both organizations addressing species in need of our help.

Many thanks to Steven and all the Munchkins as we work toward the final selection of a sanctuary location. None of this progress would have been possible without their active financial support, encouragement and advice.