Zoo Atlanta, which has plans for a sweeping transformation of the 40-acre grounds, is much closer to its $38.1 million fund-raising goal, with the announcement of $7 million in new gifts, including $3 million from an anonymous donor.
The campaign will pay for changes to the entrance plaza at the zoo, for renovations at the Cyclorama building and for an expanded elephant exhibit.
One benefit of the new African savanna habitat will be the opportunity to keep elephants from being lonely, an important consideration, which you can read about here.
A total of $34.75 million has been raised since the "Grand New View" campaign began in November of 2014. A $20 million matching gift from the Woodruff Foundation kicked off that campaign with a bang.
Since then the zoo has received 10 gifts of a million dollars or more, including $1 million from the Delta Air Lines Foundation, $1 million from Georgia Power Foundation, $1 million from the Kendeda Fund and $1 million from longtime Zoo supporters David and Cecelia Ratcliffe.
The newest gifts, of a million dollars each, come from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Gary W. Rollins Foundation, the Marcus Foundation and the Zeist Foundation.
With the news that the Cyclorama painting was headed to the Atlanta History Center, the city of Atlanta gave the zoo stewardship of the old Cyclorama building and its surrounding acreage. This gave the zoo the opportunity to bring about some major changes.
Blank and Mayor Kasim Reed became honorary chairmen of the fund-raising campaign. In the meantime, the zoo built a $25 million reptile house, which became an instant hit.
To see a video showing an artist's concept of the changes, go here.
The changes are in the design phase; ground-breaking is planned for early 2017, and the zoo expects to show off its new face in 2019.
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