ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 25, 2006 – Thousands of Detroit Zoo supporters will lace up their running shoes and head over to the Zoo on Saturday, September 16, for the 10th annual LaSalle Bank Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo.  Proceeds from the Run Wild event benefit the Zoo’s Animal Health Complex.

The event includes 5K and 10K runs as well as a noncompetitive Fun Walk.    Runners in the 5K and 10K events will start at the Zoo’s Ten Mile entrance and wind through the scenic streets of Huntington Woods surrounding the Zoo.  Walkers will have the opportunity to view their favorite animal habitats as they stroll through Zoo grounds. 

The LaSalle Bank Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo begins at 8 a.m. with the 5K run, followed by the 10K run at 8:45 and the untimed Fun Walk at 9 a.m.  Online registration is available at www.runwilddetroitzoo.com until September 12, and registration will also be available at the Zoo on September 15 and 16. 

Medals will be given to the top male and female runners in various age groups.  All participants will receive commemorative tee shirts as well as free admission to the Zoo on race day.  A Post-Race Party will follow the Run Wild event with live music, family entertainment, and complimentary food and beverages.

“Every year, we look forward to supporting this terrific event that draws families, casual runners and world-class athletes alike,” said LaSalle Bank (Michigan) CEO Mark Hoppe.  “LaSalle Bank is proud to serve as the title sponsor of the race, which reinforces our ongoing commitment to the communities in which we live, work and play.”

LaSalle Bank is in its third year of a five-year agreement to be the title sponsor for the event.  The bank’s sister organization, LaSalle Bank in Chicago, owns and operates two of the world’s largest road races, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K.  

The LaSalle Bank Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo is also supported by New Balance, Gatorade and Coca-Cola.

The Zoo is looking for 200 volunteers to assist during the event.  For information on volunteer opportunities, visit the website at www.runwilddetroitzoo.com, or contact Linda Denomme via phone at (248) 541-5715 x.3806 or e-mail at ldenomme@dzs.org.

LaSalle Bank Midwest National Association is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, with $39.4 billion in assets and $22.2 billion in deposits.  The largest bank in Michigan ranked by deposit market share, LaSalle offers a complete range of investment, commercial and retail banking products and services through 264 branches and more than 1,000 ATMs in Michigan and Indiana.  LaSalle Bank is an indirect subsidiary of Netherlands-based ABN AMRO Bank N.V., a leading international bank with total assets of EUR 975.1 billion.  It has over 3,500 branches in more than 60 countries and territories, and a staff of over 105,000 full-time employees worldwide.

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 5 p.m. April through October – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  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) 398-0900 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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