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 (Louisville Zoo) In making the grant, Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, noted the Louisville Zoo’s leadership role in the state and zoo field and commended the Zoo’s commitment to provide access and opportunities for low-income students through its educational programs.
Louisville Zoo Gains Capital Campaign Momentum
NOVEMBER 14, 2008 The Louisville Zoo just received a boost in its Glacier Run capital campaign when The Kresge Foundation, a Michigan-based private, national foundation, awarded the Zoo a $900,000 capital matching grant—$150,000 more than requested.
“This is a huge momentum catalyst,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “It is rare for a national foundation to give an organization more than it originally requested. It is testament to the timeliness and essential nature of this project that a prestigious national foundation would support it with such a significant grant.”
In making the grant, Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, noted the Louisville Zoo’s leadership role in the state and zoo field and commended the Zoo’s commitment to provide access and opportunities for low-income students through its educational programs.
“When Glacier Run opens, we will be able to expand our educational programming even further into the region to communicate one of the most relevant conservation issues of our time,” Walczak said.
To date, the Zoo has raised more than $17 million toward the project. The $900,000 Kresge challenge grant is contingent on the Zoo raising $25 million by 2010 from new private sources including individuals, corporations and foundations.
“We have a very high confidence level we can reach our goal,” Walczak said. “We have been successful thus far in pursuing opportunities to get funding for this project, and we will continue to be responsible stewards of this investment.”
The Glacier Run project, scheduled to open in 2009, hinged on state funding which hasn’t yet been attained. Due to the delay, construction costs increased. But recently the Louisville Zoo Foundation board unanimously decided to phase the project and proceed, officially breaking ground soon with the hope of a grand opening in 2010.
“Because this is such a timely project, the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board has decided not to wait any longer and to move forward, focusing on getting the ‘heart’ of Glacier Run complete, with polar bears, seals and sea lions,” Louisville Zoo Foundation Board Chair Mark Wheeler said.
With increased construction costs and current cash flow, the other originally planned components of the project, including Steller’s sea eagles, sea otters and the Glacier Run animal outreach center, will be phased in soon after this main area is complete. The Zoo is also working on a parallel fundraising track through alternate funding sources to ensure a $2.7 million endowment for the project.
“We will build everything we promised,” Walczak said. “Glacier Run will be a world-class zoo experience right here in our own back yard.
“Glacier Run will not only tell the dramatic story of the polar bear, one of the most charismatic species on our planet becoming more threatened every day, it will also engage visitors of all ages and educate them about the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Glacier Run will inspire us to take action in bettering the bond between people and our planet.”
For more information on Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit, visit http://www.louisvillezoo.org/glacierrun/.
The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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