SAINT LOUIS ZOO CONSERVATION AWARD GOES TO DR. JEFF BRIGGLER, MISSOURI CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
Dr. and Mrs. David Perkins, U.S. Bank and Fox Family Foundation also honored
2012-11-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 2012 Saint Louis Zoo Conservation Award went to Dr. Jeff Briggler, Herpetologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Over the past decade, his work with Missouri’s amphibians and reptiles has taken Dr. Briggler to every corner of the state and a variety of habitats, ranging from prairies to swamps to forests. Since 2001, he has worked with the Zoo to lead the hellbender conservation efforts in Missouri and is considered one of the nation’s leading hellbender experts.
The Zoo also presented three Saint Louis Zoo Awards to outstanding community leaders at its 21st annual Marlin Perkins Society Celebration on Nov. 1, 2012.
Individual Award
The Saint Louis Zoo Individual Award went to Dr. and Mrs. David Perkins, who have been active supporters and advocates for the Zoo for many decades. Through 60 years of marriage, the Perkins’ love and support of the Saint Louis Zoo has been evident to visitors, as their generosity is recognized across the Zoo. They have supported projects at Big Cat Country, The Living World, the Orthwein Animal Nutrition Center, Sea Lion Sound and the soon-to-be-built Polar Bear Point.
In addition, they recently provided the Zoo with documentation of a significant planned gift that benefits The Living Promise Campaign. They are Marlin Perkins Society members, Heritage Society members, supporters of the WildCare Institute, the Zoo Parents Program and of many of the Zoo’s events. The Perkins have touched nearly every aspect of the Zoo with their giving.
Corporate Award
U.S. Bank received the Saint Louis Zoo Corporate Award. While U.S. Bank has been involved with the Saint Louis Zoo since the bank entered the St. Louis-area in 2000, local legacy banks, now a part of U.S. Bank, had been involved with the Zoo since the 1980s.
With overall Zoo contributions at $1 million, U.S. Bank recently gave an additional $500,000 gift toThe Living Promise Campaign, which will be recognized at the River Bluff Overlook at Grizzly Ridge.
In addition to this generous support, since 2000, U.S. Bank has been the title sponsor of U.S. Bank Wild Lights – a tradition of support that makes the bank’s name synonymous with this popular holiday event. The bank also participates as a major sponsor for the Zoo’s largest annual fundraising events: A Zoo Ado and ZOOFARI.
Joe Imbs, Regional Chairman and St. Louis Market President for U.S. Bank, is Chair of The Living Promise Campaign—helping the Zoo raise over $106 million to date toward a $120 million goal. He has served on the Saint Louis Zoo Association Board of Directors for the past 10 years.
Foundation Award
Fox Family Foundation received the Saint Louis Zoo Foundation Award for its multi-year involvement with the Zoo. Known for their community involvement and leadership, the Fox family owns St. Louis-based Harbour Group, which is one of the area’s largest corporations.
Sam Fox, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, and his wife, Marilyn, have been members of the Marlin Perkins Society for the past seven years and are ardent supporters of the Zoo’s special events, such as ZOOFARI and A Zoo Ado, as well as the Zoo Parents Program. Sam Fox was a Trustee of the Saint Louis Zoo from 1992 to 2004. His son, Jeff, who accepted the award on behalf of the Foundation, is a Zoo Association Board member and Marlin Perkins Society member.
Previous major gifts from the Fox Family Foundation are recognized at The Living World and the Emerson Children’s Zoo. The Foundation recently made a $250,000 commitment to The Living Promise Campaign.
About Marlin Perkins Society and Saint Louis Zoo
In 1991, the Marlin Perkins Society was formed to honor one of the Zoo’s great directors. The Society, which was formed with only 48 members, provides a way to recognize those individuals, corporations and foundations that generously support the Zoo. In 2012, the Marlin Perkins Society membership exceeded the 1,000 members.
Named America’s #1 Zoo by Zagat Survey and Parenting Magazine, the Saint Louis Zoo is widely recognized for its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, research and education. One of the few free zoos in the nation, it attracts about 3,000,000 visitors a year.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Saint Louis Zoo 314/781-0900
Susan Gallagher, 314/646-4633
Christy Childs, 314/646-4639
Joanna Bender, 314/646-4703
Saint Louis Zoo Awards 2012