The STARFISH Story

The mission of the TLC STARFISH Foundation is guided by “The Starfish Story,” reminding us that no act is too small to make a difference.

The Story…

A young child is walking along the ocean & sees a beach on which thousands of starfish have washed ashore. In the distance he sees an old man, walking slowly & stooping often, picking up one starfish after another & tossing each one gently into the ocean.

“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?,” the child asks.

“Because the sun is up & the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them further in they’ll die.”

“But, old man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won’t make any difference.”

The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea.

He turns to the young child and says, “To that ONE, it makes a difference.”

The Foundation and its charitable partners are committed to the belief that positive change, both big and small, truly “makes a difference.”