ROYAL OAK, Mich., April 25, 2007 – The Detroit Zoological Society has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to support the development of a community relations initiative.  The grant will assist the Society in developing new partnerships and enhancing existing relationships with community organizations, nonprofits, school systems and civic groups throughout southeast Michigan.

The Society’s community relations initiative stems from the transfer of governance and management of the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo from the City of Detroit to the Detroit Zoological Society.  “With the transition, we believe there is an opportunity and responsibility to better serve the community,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. 

“We have already begun to implement a new community relations plan by establishing a community relations committee and increasing our cultural and geographical reach through staff and Board representation,” said Kagan.  “The Community Foundation grant will help us to continue our initiative by enhancing and expanding our community partnerships.”

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, founded in 1984, is a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations committed to the future of southeast Michigan.  The Foundation works to improve the quality of life in southeast Michigan by supporting a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs.

Governed by a board of 50 community leaders, the Foundation makes grants to outstanding charitable projects in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Livingston and Washtenaw counties.  The Foundation has assets of $532 million and, since its inception, has distributed more than $247 million in 26,285 grants to nonprofit organizations.  The Foundation Web site is www.cfsem.org.

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) 541-5717 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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