The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, education, research, and direct action. The Aquarium is home to over 70,000 amazing animals. Each year 80,000 school children learn about aquatic life through our school programs. 980 people volunteer at the Aquarium, logging 58,000 hours of service in 2008. More than 35,000,000 people have visited the Aquarium since 1956. The Aquarium's 20,000 member-households represent a total of 55,000 people who support the Aquarium. Located in Stanley Park, the Aquarium is open to visitors from around the world 365 days a year. The annual operating budget for 2009 is $23 million. Admissions, programs, groups, membership, retail operations, and food services account for 81% of the Aquarium's operating budget while charitable contributions, donations and restricted grants comprise the remainder. The Aquarium formed the Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Foundation in 1997 to manage endowment funds to support the Aquarium's education, marine science, animal care and conservation programs for years to come.