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MEDIA
RELEASE
January 24, 2012
CONTACT: Kyle Shepherd
502-238-5331 (Media Cell 502-744-5639)
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louisville Zoo receives $40,000 UPS grant
Money to help fund School at the Zoo, Zoofari!
and The World’s Largest Halloween Party
The Louisville Zoo recently received a $40,000
grant from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS. The grant will
be used to help support School at the Zoo, a week-long “hands-on,”
“minds-on,” interdisciplinary experience designed primarily for fourth
and seventh grade students using the Zoo as a “living classroom.” It
will also be used to support the Zoo’s largest event – The World’s
Largest Halloween Party – and the Zoo’s annual Zoofari! 2012 fundraiser.
School at the Zoo began in 1999 and addresses
the need for enhanced science education by providing practical learning
experiences that motivate students, most of whom come from Title I
schools. Nearly 7,000 students have participated in the program since
its inception.
School at the Zoo lets students discover,
experience and explore the world of science. “Animals and plants
naturally bring out children’s innate curiosity about the world around
them,” said Louisville Zoo Education Curator Marcelle Gianelloni.
“School at the Zoo connects students to the world of plants and animals
by using the Zoo’s ‘living classroom’ and having students ask questions
and be problem solvers and critical thinkers. These inquiry-based
activities encourage students to investigate and relate what they are
learning to their own experiences.”
Curriculum covered throughout the week is
aligned directly with the required Kentucky’s Common Core State
Standards covering such topics as animal behavior, life cycles,
classification, ecosystems, food webs and organisms and their basic
needs. Students’ understanding and knowledge of science and their
ability to reason and problem-solve are developed through inquiry and
the application of scientific concepts to real-life situations.
“We are grateful to The UPS Foundation for
their continued support of this important program,” Gianelloni said.
“Not only is School at the Zoo highly educational, it is fun for the
students. We do pre- and post-assessments with each student and find
that their knowledge has definitely expanded. ” The rigor and relevance
of the program support students meeting state and national standards.
This immersive program helps students be better prepared for “college
and career readiness” and will be responsible citizens in the 21st
century.
The UPS Foundation, which has supported the Zoo
since 1992, has given more than $500,000 to the School at the Zoo
program since 2003. This year, in addition to supporting School at the
Zoo, UPS is also supporting The World’s Largest Halloween party—which
enjoys upwards of 85,000 costumed visitors each year—and Zoofari!, an
annual fundraiser produced by the Friends of the Louisville Zoo to
support capital projects such as the new Glacier Run exhibit.
“The UPS Foundation is committed to funding
impactful programs that make a meaningful difference in our communities
– so we are proud to support the Louisville Zoo’s efforts to educate
young people in Kentuckiana,” said Ken Sternad, president of The UPS
Foundation.
For more information on the School at the Zoo
program, contact Marcelle Gianelloni at (502) 238-5328 or e-mail
marcelle.gianelloni@louisvilleky.gov.
***
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in
logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the
transportation of packages and freight, the facilitation of
international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more
efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907,
UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen,
supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs.
Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation, which celebrated its 60th
anniversary in 2011, is responsible for facilitating community
involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2010, UPS and
its employees, active and retired, invested more than $95 million in
charitable giving around the world. The UPS foundation can be found on
the web at UPS.com/foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit
# # #
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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