By Rachel Davis
With just months remaining until a critical June deadline, Zoo Atlanta announces a new $7 million in gifts to the “A Grand New View: Elephants, Events and Expansion” campaign.
New gifts include $3 million from an anonymous donor, the third-largest capital campaign gift in Zoo Atlanta history. Four other major gifts include $1 million each from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; The Gary W. Rollins Foundation; The Marcus Foundation; and The Zeist Foundation.
“We’re very energized by the momentum we’ve seen with the ‘Grand New View’ campaign and continue to be very grateful to our philanthropic community for this historic investment in the future of Zoo Atlanta, yet there is still work to be done to reach our goal,” said Raymond B. King, president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta. “We can see the finish line, but the homestretch is the most challenging and important part of this race, and we still need support.”
The zoo’s campaign got off to a tremendous start in November 2014, when the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation announced a $20 million matching grant, which will match gifts made to the campaign by June 30 on a 1:1 basis. To achieve its project budget of $38.1 million, Zoo Atlanta must raise an additional $3.35 million. To be able to claim the entire match and take full advantage of the Woodruff Foundation’s extraordinary generosity, the zoo’s ultimate goal is to raise another $4.3 million for a total of $40 million.
The campaign has now received 10 gifts of $1 million or more, including $1 million from Delta Air Lines through the Delta Air Lines Foundation; $1 million from the Georgia Power Foundation; $1 million from The Kendeda Fund; and $1 million from longtime zoo supporters David and Cecelia Ratcliffe, all announced in 2015.
“Over my many years as a supporter of Zoo Atlanta, I have always been impressed by the enormous potential the Zoo has to become truly great,” said Arthur M. Blank, Chairman of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, who along with Mayor Kasim Reed serves as an Honorary Chair of the ‘Grand New View’ campaign. “The zoo now has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to expand its footprint, enhance its commitment to conservation of elephants, and create a best-in-class events venue. This is more than just an opportunity for the zoo; it’s an opportunity for the people of Atlanta and Georgia to enjoy new experiences that will attract even more people to the singular advantages of our city and state. I hope that the Atlanta philanthropic community will continue to step up to help the zoo close the gap at this critical point in the campaign.”
The “Grand New View” campaign will enable an unprecedented expansion of Zoo Atlanta, made possible by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s 2014 announcement that the zoo would become the new steward of the Cyclorama building and its adjacent property. The historic building will be revitalized and reborn as a one-of-a-kind event destination overlooking a new African savanna, where the zoo’s African elephants and giraffes will roam a new and significantly expanded habitat. Other transformations will include a grand entry plaza from Cherokee Avenue following the demolition of the zoo’s current Administration Building. The city of Atlanta has agreed to fund a parking and mobility solution to address the current and future needs for transportation and access to Grant Park.
The project is currently in design development and is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2017, with an anticipated opening date in early 2019. View updates and a conceptual video at www.zooatlanta.org/grand_new_view.
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