Phippsburg native and Founding Executive Director of Marine Mammals of Maine, Lynda Doughty was recently nominated for CNN’s 2021 Hero of the Year. This Peabody and Emmy Award-winning campaign honors everyday individuals around the world making extraordinary contributions to help improve the lives of others. CNN received thousands of nominations, and the top 10 were recently revealed by Anderson Cooper who announced Doughty as a finalist.

Public voting is now assisting in deciding which of the top 10 will be awarded 2021 Hero of the Year—and $100,000 towards their non-profit. Now, Doughty and Marine Mammals of Maine need their communities to rally behind them and vote every day through Dec. 7 for this local hero. Visit CNNHeroes.com to vote. 

Doughty’s initial nomination from a volunteer was motivated by her dedication to ensure the public has a marine mammal and sea turtle stranding hotline to call and speak with knowledgeable people, provide response to hundreds of stranded marine mammals and sea turtles every year, operate a hospital for sick, injured and abandoned seals, educate the public about sharing the coastal environment with marine life, and conduct critical research to further marine conservation along the Eastern Seaboard—all on a shoestring budget. 

“I nominated Lynda for CNN Hero because with very limited funds and resources, and sometimes insurmountable obstacles she still formed and grew Marine Mammals of Maine. When I think of Lynda, I think of the quote ‘Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire,’” said Andrea Hess, Marine Mammals of Maine volunteer and CNN Hero nominator  

“I am so humbled by this recognition, it is such an honor to be among the nine other inspiring finalists for this award. The community I was raised in has been a huge support system along my journey to carry out this critical work in Maine. At the end of the day, I just want to ensure these animals have a voice, that we help those impacted by humans, and that we are doing everything we can to protect their habitat. Now we have this incredible opportunity to do even more of that if awarded Hero of the Year,” said Doughty.

Today, Subaru announced they will be matching Giving Tuesday donations to each of the Top 10 CNN Heroes, doubling the public’s support of Doughty and her work: 

• Subaru will match, dollar-for-dollar, donations to MMoME, up to $50,000.
• The match is for individual donations up to $5,000.
• All donations eligible for matching must be made through MMoME’s GoFundMe. 
• Matching begins Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 8 a.m. EST and will continue until MMoME has raised $50,000 in matching-eligible donations or Monday, Jan. 3. 
• Visit mmome.org/double to donate and double your impact.

As the only marine mammal hospital currently taking in new patients along more than 6,000 miles of New England coastline, and amidst increasing numbers of harmful human interactions with marine mammals, MMoME must keep growing. For every new patient MMoME takes in for much-needed care, there are a handful of others that can’t be helped due to lack of funds. The Maine community’s CNN Hero of the Year votes for Doughty and Subaru-matched donations will significantly help her help marine animals and Maine’s coastal environment.

Tune in to the 15th annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. to see if Doughty is named 2021 CNN Hero of the Year.