A Dolphin’s Promise

They’re custom made, so please send an email to [email protected]. We will help you get started!

Proceeds from A Dolphin’s Promise will go toward scholarships for local students to volunteer on our surgical programs or attend our summer International Student Leadership Conference. A portion of each donation will also support Operation Smile by funding surgeries for children with cleft conditions. With your contribution, you’re not only receiving a beautiful, custom dolphin, but also giving health, hope and opportunity to local student leaders and children with cleft conditions in low-resource countries.

A Dolphin’s Promise was founded in 2006 by Virginia Beach native Cindy Graf. She started this effort to honor her mother and raise support for cancer research. With the beginnings in Sandbridge, these fiberglass dolphin sculptures now dot the city, welcoming visitors to Virginia Beach businesses and landmarks. In 2020, Cindy generously invited Operation Smile to adopt A Dolphin’s Promise, allowing these works of art to fulfill a new promise.

We can’t wait to see what you have in mind! Please send an email to [email protected].

Absolutely! We have a wide variety of dolphin examples to inspire your design. Our artists are happy to collaborate with you to assist in shaping your vision for your dolphin and bringing it to life.

We are always connecting with Virginia Beach artists. Artists we are currently working with include Eric Lindbergh, Bob Langston, and Brittany Latimore. Have someone in particular in mind? Let us know!

We’re so happy you want to join in this initiative! Connect with us at [email protected] and we will add you to our artist directory. 

The creation of the dolphin statue takes between two and four weeks. If you are having your dolphin decorated by an artist, then the time will vary based on the artist’s schedule and their method of decoration. We will have a better idea once we work with you to select an artist!

Yes, we will be happy to provide updates!

You don’t! We will deliver! 

There are more than 100 dolphins currently in Virginia Beach!

A Promise Dolphin can live wherever you would like! It can be installed at a business, at a school or at your home.