|
MEDIA
RELEASE
December 22, 2010
CONTACT: Kyle Shepherd
502-238-5331 (Media Cell 502-744-5639)
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov
Community Support Helps Zoo Meet Kresge Challenge
and Cap Glacier Run Capital Campaign
Humana Inc. and Ogle Foundation Gifts Put Campaign Over Top
Thanks to the generous support of business
leaders, corporations, and foundations in our community plus individual
donors, Zoo members, Friends of the Louisville Zoo, Zoo Youth Board, Zoo
volunteers and staff, the Louisville Zoo has reached its Kresge
challenge goal thus enabling the completion of the remaining phases of
Glacier Run — the Glacier Run Arctic Ambassador Center and the Steller’s
Sea Eagle Exhibit.
Specific thanks go to Humana Inc. and The Ogle
Foundation which joined forces in an exceptional example of regional
cooperation to help catapult this effort across the finish line with
additional gifts of $100,000 each.
Recent invitations from the Zoo to the
community to help meet the January 1 deadline for the Kresge challenge
generated significant enthusiasm and support. Over 500 donors have
contributed since November 1, more than doubling the number of
supporters to the campaign. “This is another example of our community’s
tremendous generosity and support,” said Louisville Zoo Foundation Board
Chairman Mark Wheeler. “The way everyone came together to see this
through is truly an affirmation of the Zoo’s value to the citizens of
Kentuckiana.” Wheeler had nothing but praise for Campaign Co-Chairs
Sandra Frazier and Allan Latts. “They have done a phenomenal job in this
challenging economy. We can’t thank them or the community and the
dedicated Zoo staff enough for making Glacier Run such an incredible
success on every level,” said Wheeler.
“Glacier Run is one of the premier zoo exhibits
being developed in this country,” said Mayor Jerry Abramson. “It is an
investment that will provide a major boost to our community and region’s
quality of life, educational opportunities and tourism attraction for
years to come.”
The joint commitment of Humana Inc. and The
Ogle Foundation is a testament to the Zoo’s role as an educational
attraction for more than 800,000 visitors each year from all across
Kentuckiana.
“The Ogle Foundation recognizes the
tremendously positive impact that the Louisville Zoo has on our region.
We are happy to be able to support Glacier Run which will further
enhance regional tourism, economic development and the vibrancy of our
community,” said Ogle Foundation Executive Director Kent W. Lanum. “Receiving
the prestigious Kresge grant is indeed an honor and we are proud to have
played a role in helping the Zoo meet this important challenge.”
“Humana is proud to have played a role in
helping the Louisville Zoo meet the Kresge challenge,” said Mike
McCallister, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
Humana. “We deeply value the Zoo as a prime education and recreation
resource in our community, particularly for families and schools, and we
look forward to the completion of Glacier Run.”
The Zoo would also like to thank the following
supporters for each committing more than $1 million to Glacier Run:
Louisville Metro Government, The James Graham Brown Foundation,
Brown-Forman Corporation, Friends of the Louisville Zoo, The Harry S.
Frazier Family, Annette and John Schnatter, and Betty and David Jones.
Gifts to the Glacier Run capital campaign are
still coming in, which speaks to the region’s love of the Zoo;
therefore, the final amount raised will be announced at a later date.
Any additional funds received will be applied toward the planned
endowment of Glacier Run and will be used for critical maintenance of
this innovative exhibit to ensure this community treasure is here for
generations to come. Donations can still be made online by clicking
here or by calling (502) 238-5614.
This multi-phase capital project has included
several successes to date including the 2010 opening of the Seal and Sea
Lion Habitat, the 2008 completion of the Alice S. Etscorn Tiger Tundra,
and the 2007 opening of the Calistoga Splash Park. The town of Glacier
Run is scheduled to open this April with an expansive Bear Habitat
featuring polar bears and grizzly bears. The following spring of 2012,
the Zoo will open the Glacier Run Arctic Ambassador Center which will
include outreach animals such as snowy owls and arctic foxes. These
outreach animals, along with their zoo keepers, will be out and about on
the exhibit’s walkways and will help convey important conservation
stories. An aviary to house the Zoo’s magnificent Steller’s sea eagle
will also open in 2012.
Designed as an imaginary town on the edge of
the arctic wilderness, Glacier Run is modeled after the real town of
Churchill, Canada, the polar bear capital of the world, where humans and
wildlife learn to co-exist. The exhibit will offer spectacular views,
captivating stories of the arctic and unique opportunities for close-up
encounters with the magnificent and iconic polar bear, as well as
grizzly bears. Guests can interact with zoo keepers, learn about current
challenges to arctic environments and animals, and discover how
incremental changes in our everyday activities and behaviors can make a
difference for our planet and these magnificent species.
***
About The Louisville Zoo
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).
***
About Kresge
Pending formal approval, The Kresge Foundation
expects to release its $900,000 grant in the first quarter of 2011. The
Kresge Foundation is based in Troy, Michigan and focuses on awarding
challenge grants to help nonprofit organizations build their base of
private financial support as they conduct capital campaigns to build or
renovate their facilities.
***
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky.,
is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental
benefits companies, with approximately 10.1 million medical members and
approximately 7 million specialty-benefit members. Humana is a
full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health
and supplemental benefit plans for employer groups, government programs
and individuals.
Over its 49-year history, Humana has
consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs.
Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing
guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience
throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available
to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s Web site
at
http://www.humana.com, including copies of:
-
Annual reports to stockholders
-
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
-
Most recent investor conference
presentations
-
Quarterly earnings news releases
-
Replays of most recent earnings release
conference calls
-
Calendar of events (includes upcoming
earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned
interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
-
Corporate Governance Information
***
About The Ogle Foundation
The Paul Ogle Foundation was established
through the generosity of Paul Ogle in 1980 and is celebrating its 30th
anniversary of giving back to the community as the fourth largest
private foundation in the metro region. The Ogle Foundation has given
over $70 million in grants since its beginning. The Foundation funds
nonprofit organizations, activities and projects that directly improve
the lives of the people in Southern Indiana and the regional area with
its giving having an economic impact of over $166 million.
***
Donors to the Glacier
Run Capital Campaign Louisville Zoo
$100,000 Level and Above (Last Updated:
12/21/10)
-
Louisville Metro Government
-
The James Graham Brown Foundation, Inc.
-
Brown-Forman Corporation
-
Friends of the Louisville Zoo
-
The Harry S. Frazier Family
-
Annette and John Schnatter
-
Betty and David Jones
-
The Kresge Foundation
-
The Paul Ogle Foundation, Inc.
-
Mrs. Alice S. Etscorn
-
The Humana Foundation and Humana Inc.
-
Owsley B. Frazier
-
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.
-
The Cralle Foundation, Inc.
-
Mimi and Marshall V. Heuser
-
The Gheens Foundation, Inc.
-
Thorntons
-
U.S. Bank
-
Anonymous
-
Papa John's International, Inc.
-
National City Bank
-
Marshall Charitable Foundation, Inc.
-
William E. Barth Foundation
***
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).
***
Get
up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit
by checking out our new
Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville
Zoo by becoming a fan on
Facebook and
Twitter.
### |
