Plant a Million Corals Foundation

Plant a Million Corals Foundation (PAMCF) is a non-profit (501(c)3) organization dedicated to restoring coral reefs through innovative science, education, and community engagement. Founded in 2019 by Dr. David Vaughan, a renowned coral reef scientist, known for his groundbreaking discovery of a method to rapidly reproduce resilient, fast-growing corals, PAMCF is committed to large scale application of micro-fragmentation. By cultivating and outplanting millions of corals, PAMCF aims to rebuild thriving coral reef ecosystems for future generations. With already over 40,000 corals on site at their facility in Summerland Key, and counting, PAMCF is on the way to reach 100,000 coral production by the end of 2024, and a 1.1million coral production capacity by the end of 2025. This will allow PAMCF to produce 1 million corals per year to be planted on the Florida Coral Reef Tract.

To accelerate coral restoration efforts, PAMCF has developed the Coral Restoration Units (CRUs) program, providing essential equipment and training to individuals and organizations committed to coral reef restoration. Additionally, the foundation offers Coral Restoration Workshops to educate and empower practitioners and organizations to participate in this critical conservation work.

Dr. David Vaughan
Founder, President, and CEO

Dr. David Vaughan has held positions in aquaculture research and development for over 45 years. He directed the Aquaculture Division at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution for 17 years, including the design, build and operation of the 60 acre HBOI Aquaculture Development Park, the world’s only completely recirculating center for aquaculture training and demonstration.

Dr. David Vaughan is often cited with creating the R&D and scale up of clam farming technologies in Florida, and directing the training programs and operations of the nation’s largest hatchery to produce clams used for the retraining displaced fisherman.

He founded and developed ORA, Oceans, Reefs and Aquariums Inc., a large marine ornamental production facility and has worked with Philippe Cousteau and Earth Echo International on coral reef restoration initiatives.

As previous Executive Director of the Mote Marine Laboratory in the Florida Keys, he started the coral restoration program, heralded with developing the new technology of “micro-fragmentation”. Dr. Vaughan is presently helping people globally in this process as a scalable tool for reef restoration as Founder of Plant a Million Corals.

*  Dr. David E. Vaughan has previously worked for and with many other marine science organizations over the years and has now retired from those entities and is solely representing Plant A Million Corals until he reaches this goal.

Dee Dee Vaughan Smause
Co-Founder, Director, Development and Communications

Dee Dee grew up on and under the water. You could say that saltwater runs through her veins. Being raised by a marine biologist meant that almost all things revolved around the ocean, and that has continued to this day. As one of the co-founders of the Plant a Million Corals Foundation, her main role is to raise awareness and build partnerships for coral restoration.

Dee Dee’s professional career started much earlier and has ranged from the local to the global level. Working with the American Red Cross as the disaster response and volunteer coordinator, she handled volunteer recruitment, training, and deployment. While at the Earth Day Network, an international environmental advocacy based in Washington, D.C., she was the Executive Assistant to the President, assisting with organizational management, campaign development, and working with the media as a content contributor and writer. As the coordinator of the Florida Keys Community College Foundation (now College of the Florida Keys), Dee Dee was the lead administrator and fundraiser for the scholarship program supporting the students and programs of the school. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, she coordinated the disaster response for the students and staff, as well as assisting in the fundraising efforts to support those in need in the school. After the hurricane response, she joined the Florida Keys Community Land Trust, raising money and awareness for the lack of affordable housing in the Florida Keys as their Development Officer.

When the opportunity to start the Plant a Million Corals Foundation with her family, and actively support coral restoration around the world, she jumped at the chance to be a part of the founding team. Getting to work with practitioners, scientists, educators, supporters, and the community making coral restoration affordable, accessible, and scalable has been a dream come true!

Dee Dee lives in the Florida Keys with her husband, Jason, and their rescue pup, Isabela.