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We're currently closed.Open Tomorrow 10am - 5pm
Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

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Blog & News

Anni Emmert

Inspiration Updated May 6, 2020 Posted September 29, 2017

CEO David Yates was contacted by Albert Manero, the young leader of Limbitless Solutions, a group of University of Central Florida (UCF) engineering students that were shaking the world of prosthetics by making arms and legs for kids with 3-D printing at a nominal cost. Yates had known Albert and his family for a number of years. Albert and his young team made a prosthetic arm for Annika “Anni” Emmert, who arrived in Florida from California expecting to pick up her 3-D printed arm at UCF, but did not know the students had engineered an extra-special delivery. The ten-year-old (at that time, now 13) was born without her right hand and part of her arm. Anni thought she and her family were simply visiting and spending the day at Clearwater Marine Aquarium prior to picking her arm up at UCF the next day. Anni’s trip to see Winter came with a couple surprises, as actress Cozi Zuehlsdorff, who starred in the Dolphin Tale movies was there to greet her. Then, during a VIP poolside visit with Winter, Anni opened the cooler she thought was filled with fish for Winter, and found that it actually had her new robotic arm, bringing her to tears.


Winter’s story has inspired millions of people all over the world! Read more inspirational stories.

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We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790
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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, A FL-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH352), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Federal Tax ID#: 59-2086737.

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