ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 21, 2006 – The Detroit Zoological Society today announced the close of its “Celebrating Wildlife” capital campaign after raising $49,600,000.   The campaign was launched in 1999 to fund four world-class facilities at the Detroit Zoo – the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Arctic Ring of Life, Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex, and Ford Education Center – and to build the Society’s endowment in support of the Zoo’s research, education, conservation and animal-care activities.

“The money raised in this campaign has helped to create some of the most exciting habitats and facilities in any zoo,” said Detroit Zoological Society Chairman Gail Warden.  “We’re grateful to the many corporations, foundations and individuals whose commitment to our Zoo made this dream a reality.”

The Ford Motor Company Fund provided the single-largest gift to the campaign with a $5-million investment in developing the education facility that bears the Ford name.  The DaimlerChrysler Corporation, The Kresge Foundation and The Skillman Foundation provided leadership gifts of $2 million or more, as did Barbara and Frederick Erb, whose recent second campaign gift enabled the Society to close the campaign. 

In addition, several donors provided lead gifts of $1 million or more to help the Society reach its campaign goal, including Mr. & Mrs. Paul D. Alandt; Benson and Edith Ford Fund; Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Foundation; Leslie C. Devereaux, the Estate of Adelyn B. Devereaux, and the Richard C. Devereaux Foundation; General Motors Corporation; Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation; J.P. Morgan Chase Bank; Matilda R. Wilson Fund; McGregor Fund; and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co.

In 2000, the Zoo introduced the National Amphibian Conservation Center, which won the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ National Exhibit Award in 2002.  The Zoo unveiled the award-winning Arctic Ring of Life in 2001, which remains the world’s largest and most unique polar bear habitat.  In 2004, the state-of-the-art Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex opened, named in honor of the Society’s long-time board chairman.  Last year, the Zoo cut the ribbon on the Ford Education Center.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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