March 2009
 

$369,000 GIFT TO OREGON ZOO STARTS NEW YEAR WITH A ROAR

Zoo hopes donation from M.J. Murdock Trust will set positive tone for 2009

PORTLAND, OR - The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has made a $369,000 grant to wrap up The Oregon Zoo Foundation's Predators of the Serengeti capital campaign. The Foundation surpassed its $5 million fund-raising goal almost a year ahead of schedule, raising more than $6 million.

"In these tough economic times, it is hard to express enough thanks to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust," said Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. "The Trust, along with the entire community, has shown strong support for the zoo and our efforts to bring lions back to Portland."

Other large gifts that have helped the zoo reach its campaign goal include:

  • A $300,000 challenge grant from the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation and the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation.
  • A $350,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust.
  • A $175,000 challenge grant from The Collins Foundation.
  • A $125,000 donation from the Jay and Diane Zidell Charitable Foundation.
  • A $300,000 donation from the Clark family -- Mike and Tracey Clark, the Clark/Lewis Family Foundation, Brittany Clark and Christopher Brooks.
  • A $104,973 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In addition, zoo volunteers and employees exceeded their own fund-raising goals, bringing in more than $225,000, and the campaign received more than 1,200 donations from members and friends of the zoo.

"We are extremely grateful for the leadership of Oregon Zoo Foundation board member Suzanne Bishop, who helped make this campaign such a roaring success," Vecchio said. "We're all looking forward to hearing the roar of the lion, the bark of the African wild dog and the chirp of the cheetah."

Construction on Predators of the Serengeti is already under way, and the exhibit is expected to open this summer.

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust's goal is to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest by providing grants and enrichment programs to organizations that seek to strengthen the region's educational, spiritual and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. For more information, visit www.murdock-trust.org.

For information about the zoo's new African predator exhibit, opening this summer, visit
http://www.oregonzoo.org/Exhibits/PredatorsOfSerengeti/index.htm.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561
Lion Compound
  

Beginning this summer, Oregon Zoo visitors will hear the roar of the lion, the bark of the African wild dog and the chirp of the cheetah, thanks to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and many other generous donors. Photo by Charis Henrie, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.

The Oregon Zoo's Predators of the Serengeti, featuring lions, African wild dogs, cheetahs, caracals, mongoose and other carnivores opens to the public this summer. Photo courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.