October 2013

Inside this Issue:

Wild Cat Initiative Gives Hope for the Future

Great News forthe Baby Gorilla

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Announcements

pittsburghzoo.org

A n e w s l e t t e r f o r t h e v a l u e d s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e P i t t s b u r g h Z o o & P P G A q u a r i u m

Development Department

Janet RoseSenior Director of Development412-365-2540jrose@pittsburghzoo.org

Sarah PoweskaAssistant Director of Development412-365-2541spoweska@pittsburghzoo.org

Lori ElderMember Services Manager412-365-2534lelder@pittsburghzoo.org

Amy O’NeillFoundation & Grants Coordinator412-365-2543aoneill@pittsburghzoo.org

Yasmeen HatcherDevelopment Coordinator412-365-2542yhatcher@pittsburghzoo.org

Richard KalsonChair, Board of Directors

Dr. Barbara BakerPresident & CEO

In compiling this report, the development office has made every attempt to ensure that the information is accurate, complete, and listed all contributions accurately. If there are omissions, misspellings, or other errors, please report them to the development office at 412-365-2541 and please accept our apologies.

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When you visit the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, you see wild cats everywhere on exhibit. There are some of the most beautiful and the most endangered, such as the Amur leopard, Amur tiger, cheetah, lion, and snow leopard. Saving wild cats through exhibitry, education, and innovative breeding requires an enormous commitment. At the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, we are bringing the wonder and awe of wild cats to thousands of Zoo visitors every year.

The Pittsburgh Zoo has a long and successful history of working with wild cats. For example,on March 31, the Zoo celebrated the birth of a tiger cub. This beautiful bundle of joy was born to fourth-time mother Toma, who was born at a Russian zoo and imported into the United States as a cub. This has made her the most genetically valuable female Amur tiger in North America. Paired with Russian born Taiga, one of the top genetically valuable male tigers in the U.S., their new cub represents the future of genetic diversity in North America.This Zoo-bred population is vitally important to the future of all Amur tigers. As the number of Amur tigers in the wild continues to plummet, keeping tigers as wild and genetically diverse as possible could be a critical factor in the future of this species.

The recent birth and official naming of this cub, by a family of Grow Wild members, continues to bring vital attention and support to the plight of wild tigers. This newest cub is now the most important male tiger in the United States, and he has an official name, befitting his Russian heritage. His name is Pavel or Paul and his nickname to animal staff is Pascha. His sponsorship directly impacts our ability to support and sustain the Zoo’s Amur tiger program. It means support for more educational outreach, tiger enrichment, veterinary care, feeding and breeding. When donors give to our animal programs, our animal programs thrive.

Wild Cat Initiative Gives Hope for the Future

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Sadly, most of the wild cats are in trouble. By working together however, we can have a significant impact on their future. Through the Zoo’s breeding programs, our beautiful natural habitat exhibits, and by increasing educational programs surrounding the cats, we can reach more of the zoo-going public with vital information and awareness.

To understand the situation today, several of the big cat species have gone from healthy populations to vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, meaning they could be on the verge of extinction. Two of the primary reasons for this are poaching and loss of habitat. The illegal trade of the body parts of wild cats is rampant in many parts of the world. Where cats and humans intersect, such as on farms and with livestock, frequently the wild cat is targeted as the culprit and killed.

Meanwhile, the staff of the Zoo is also working toward successfully breeding Amur leopards. With around 40 left in their native range of Asia, successful breeding of these beautiful cats here at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will represent an important milestone in the continuation of the species.

Most immediately, we plan to start a cheetah breeding program. Another one of the most endangered of the big cats, cheetahs are the fastest land mammals on earth. Coveted for their skins and their body parts, they are facing extinction. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium however, is preparing to launch a captive breeding program and expand our cheetah exhibit. By supporting this effort, it will enable us to acquire several young cheetahs of breeding age who were born in captivity in South Africa. We will be able to expand and enhance our cheetah exhibit and help us to further support conservation efforts in the wild. Please let us know if you would like to earmark a gift towards this new and important effort. Time is of the essence.

In summary, wild cats need our help and we need your help with our efforts. Please consider a gift now to support these amazing and beautiful animals. Your gift is a great investment in the future and the return on your investment is priceless.

*As this issue of Zoo Connections was going to production, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium received a generous gift from John Miclot and Cathy Rinchetti to help support our new cheetah program. Special thanks to John, a long time Zoo board member and his wife Cathy.

2013 Individual Donors (Annual gifts received from March 1, 2013–August 31, 2013)

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$2,500 & aboveAnonymousLaura Ellsworth & Bruce TeitelbaumJan & Jeff FisherBob & Janine FragassoPatrick & Rachel KerrishMichael LaRocco*Patrick* & Candy LoughneyJohn Miclot & Cathy RinchettiMike & Belinda TerzichKaren TrittenJulie & William Weil $1,000 to 2,499Barry & Diane BallietDotti & John BechtolGeorgia BernerMrs. William BoydHoward* & Marilyn BruschiJim & Peggy DouglassJohn & Colette* DuganMr. & Mrs.* Steven ElliottDrs. R. Kent & Karen Roche Galey*Phyllis I. HogeSara HorsmanDavid HaughJames & Donna HudsonMrs. W. Arch Irvin, Jr.*James & Linda KasunickRob KozelKatherine King LalorDenise Letcher & Joe McDonoughRosemary & Howard Loevner

Kim M. MaceyStephanie MartinMr. Richard Prosser MellonRyan NeupaverWilliam & Linda RoemerCindy* & Andy RussellThe Sloan FamilyMr. & Mrs. Douglas W. Stirling*Bruce & Barbara WiegandCraig & Sally Wolfanger $250 to $499Al PattersonThomas & Rosemary Barton, Jr.Cynthia A. BognarSusan Summers BrownFrank Cimimo & Rachel PeoplesDenise CrosbyCarolyn A. DavisMary & John DeGeorgePaula S. GesselbertySteven HechtHans & June JonasGail & Tom LitwilerDavid & Roseann MaeglePatrick OsbornePaul F. SkirtichAndrea N. SpadeMyra ToomeyAnthony & Maureen TuroSusan & Timothy Vismor

$50 to $249William D. & Sharon S. AbrahamSteve BatemanJudith & Marvin L. BellinElizabeth & Jean BennettMr. John BesspiataBetty & Lee BloseCarol BrickleyChris CicotelloAnonymousHeth & Dana DaleyEmma & Edward DiazAngela Grace Lynn FasoldDwayne C. FielderDebra & Eric FrantzRichard M. GasperiniMr. Michael F. GoldeTimothy & Alison GrayJames & Constance HallamCharles HarffJohn A. HarperHenry & Nell HerchenroetherAleta & Dennis HowrylaVicki & J. Scott KelleyAnn Kelton & Jefferey HritzFrank & Edith KlebachaSarah & Lars KuehnDiana LamerMary Ellen LancasterLeona K. LaValleyMartin & Alice LiebHarley Jean LindebergJeff & Kristin Matheny

Barbara McCabeDavid & Linda McCrearyEarl McDanielVeronica L. McDonough AnchorsRobert McMaster & Beverly McGrathHarvey MorrisMrs. Kenneth NeuhausanNigra FamilyBeth & Dave NowkaKatelynn OrlaskyPatrick OsborneKenneth PattersonJorge Vazquez & Carmen PerezShirley A. PlackeFred & Renee QuinnPaul ResnickNancy Sue & Ronald RigglePaul & Judith RockarBarbara SchneiderSheri & Jack Schweiger, JrMr. J.W. SkooglundMs. Ann SlonakerEllen S. & Thomas R. SmithJerry & Anna StewartPatirica TapkeSusan ThomasJohn & Pam ThompsonRaymond & Mary TomaselloNancy Urban & Wendy McCabeCathie & John ViscontiMary & Mark WilkinsHelen A. WilsonCarrie & David Work Below $50Donna & Mark AffeltrangerEdward Alo & Olive TillerMr. & Mrs. Ronald AngermanJohn & Rebecca Ayres

Michael & Carol AzarChristina BakerSteven & Yasuko BalsomicoSarah & Brian BellissimoTeresa & Nicholas BenavidesMark Berger & Kara PanchikKaren BerinskyDanyele & Craig BernickCarolyn & Averill BlanchardKaitlin Bosle & Chucky ClevengerDiane & James BoyleDaniel A. BrannanSusan Brode & David SchwartzmanDonna & Timothy BrunelliJames & Patricia CairnsRoger & Anna CapistrantMary Ellen & Bryan CareyRobert & Barbara CaugheyMeghan CernuskaTaiwen & Alice ChenMr. & Mrs. Joseph CiolettiMolly ColtharpJoan & Raymond ConnollyArthur & Shirley CoopsBrett Cornell & Tamara LuffyMichael E. CoyneMary Lang & Thomas CummingsHeth & Dana DaleyDestiny & Adam DayMr. William S. Debone Jr.Carrie & Marc DelrossoBonnie J. DemedaMichelle & Michael DesavageKathleen Dewalt & Robert HooverBrittany Dulaney & Ryan HepingerAngela Grace Lynn FasoldAngela Grace Lynn FasoldMark C. FauriePaul N. Faville, Jr.

Lisa FerranteRonald FischerRenee FisherTeri FlatleyLeonard Fresh & Trina YekelKelly FridayMr. & Mrs. John W. FrombachKathy & Colleen GallowayKathy & Colleen GallowayFrancis Gibala & Patricia MarzanoDonald & Margaret GibsonTheodore GregoryLinda Hackett & Tim SullivanSharon S. HadleyKim Harrigal & Mark ScheatzleDavid W. HenryKathryn HillerHenry & Elsie HillmanVirginia HoakChris HoffmanDawnelle & Kyle HolleranAleta & Dennis HowrylaFrank & Candy HuckMelanie & Simon HuntleyHolly & Luther IckesJennifer IeleaseAlfred & Necole Jacobsen

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*Indicates Board Member

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Cheri JimenoJohn & Lisa JohnsonStacy Maloney & Stewart JoslinMatthew JuskowichMary Lou KarlVicki & J. Scott KelleyAndrew & Danyielle KomarAmy KrajciSusan LagoyPenni & Justin LamisonInna Lamm & Maxim BocharovKimberly & David LexElizabeth LibermanSherry & Philip LightRon LockardMs. Jane M. LubicDonna Kay & Charles MarcianoAmy L. Mattson & Victor O. MorellHanna McCoyNancy McCreightSandra McGaughey & Shannon LadaDonald & Barbara McNamaraLisa McNamaraCatherine MechlingAnn Meyer

Bill & Karma MinkewiczEster & Tyson MishWilliam & Katie MitchellMark MorabitoMelanie MurrayTheron & Carol MyersBonnie NeeseJennifer & Tim OddisJennifer & Tim OddisWildlife Protectors ClubMelissa Osburn & Alexander MartinTimothy & Mary Ellen OttiePapik Chris & Michelle PapikMr. Gerald J. PitzerLucas & Kelly PorterJack & Vicki PrestonCheney Priestley & Gerri Greenburg PriestleyMichelle PsarosRuth & Douglas QuintMary & Jerry RabinowitzJohn & Debbie RoheMark & Carol RothMitchel & Victoria RothJohn C. & Shirley J. Ryan

Valerie & Brian SabottaKaren Saint SingSteven & Cynthia SchaabWilliam & Lori SchallusRobert SchmittJenny & Floyd W. Schuchert Jr.Patricia ShawMichael Shtur & Nancy HernandezBonnie SieberEloise SmithRonald & Janie SmithRebecca Snyder & Robert OstrowskiKimberly & Joshua StelloJonathan StewartChelsea SwankMary & Peter TalentoMs. Kimberly TaylorRobert L. TaylorRichard & Rae TuckerNeil & Hannah Van HornSally & Dave WadeKaren & Frank WidinaSarah Hayes Wiggin*

*Indicates Board Member

2013 Individual Donors, continued

We want to thank and recognize Sandra Cadavid, an up-and-coming Pittsburgh handbag and jewelry designer, whose work is not only beautiful but helps to support conservation. Recently Sandra and her partner, Yu-Ling Cheng, did a photo shoot here at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, to promote wildlife conservation and Sandra’s new line of wildlife-themed jewelry. Sandra also designed and donated an original rhino cuff bracelet for the International Elephant & Rhino Symposium, recently hosted by the Zoo. The funds raised from the sale of the bracelet went to rhino conservation in the wild. Visit www.sandracadavid.com

Welcome our newest donor and her designer jewelry for a cause

In memory of Terry Casey Carolyn Hunter

Beverly Dick Jill M. Fusaro

Logan Fochtman Adam & Cheri Foote

Courtney Keevican Anonymous

Loretta Korchok Donna Korchok Elaine Linardi

Maria & John Kacprzyk Margie Marks

Raymond A. Murray, II Lucia Benz

Rachel P. Sikorsk Katija Koehler

Rachel P. Sikorsk Katija Koehler Rosemarie Moschella Linda Raden Marie-Odile Baretsky Nancy Stinger Nicole Lolly Campbell Brian Fallon

In honor of Len Bach First United Methodist Church

Lorraine Courtright Elinor & Thomas Getting

Carol Caroselli’s Birthday Goldie Samuels

Terry & Mario DeIullis Cynthia Jablonowski

Aaden & Alexis Ferrie Carolyn Miszuk

Hadley Kalson Neil & Suzanne Alexander

Ben Kirby’s 4th Birthday Jessica Olifson Sharon Roth Greg & Pam Calig Dana & Khai Dinh

Annalee Kuhn Lacey Jakub

Barbara & Wilson Stout’s 50th Anniversary Ruth Wintner

Get Well Cliff Needham ____?___

Diana Lamer Donation made NY United Health Group for her volunteer times as a docent

Commemorative, Honor, & Memorial GiftsThank you for thinking of the Zoo as you honor or remember someone special

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The Value of Annual Giving

Annual giving is vital to

the successful operation of

the Pittsburgh Zoo &

PPG Aquarium. Membership

and ticket sales alone do not

cover the cost of all that we

offer in sustaining our mission.

Annual giving helps to fill

this gap. Contributing to the

Zoo plays an important role in

providing care for our animals,

supporting our educational

programs, and aiding in our

on-site and international

conservation efforts. Thank

you to the individuals on the

following pages for being a part

of our donor family.

How close do you want to get?Join the Grow Wild Society to get a unique perspective of the animals at both family and adult-only events. It’s a VIP group that includes exclusive gatherings and behind-the-scenes tours. Membership in the Grow Wild Society gives you a closer partnershipwith the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium while supporting its vital mission.

So join today and get a whole new view of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. pittsburghzoo.org/Donate/GrowWildSociety or call 412-365-2540

$250 to $499

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Despite a bumpy start, our baby Western lowland gorilla is a star. Now back with his mother and gorilla troop full-time, he is thriving. When he was born several months ago, everything started out fine until his mother, Moka, developed a severe case of mastitis and the baby couldn’t nurse. While Moka was being treated for the mastitis, her milk supply dried up and baby had to be raised on bottles of human infant formula. With 24-hour human care, the baby gorilla grew and grew, and received constant care and attention while continuing to have daily visits with his mom and gorilla troop. The constant attention and care helped the baby to become very comfortable with human handling, something that is critically important for the future when he may need to be examined, vaccinated, or receive other kinds of vital human care.

Great News, Great Development, Great Growth for the baby Gorilla

Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving:A Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Membership

A Zoo Membership is a

passport to family fun and

adventure. Treat somebody

you love to a gift Membership.

It includes 12 months of

unlimited free admission to

the Pittsburgh Zoo &

PPG Aquarium, free parking,

discounted admission to 130

other zoos, education program

discounts, exclusive access to

events, and much more!

Click here for more

information.

As the baby became bigger and stronger, he was gradually transitioned onto solid foods while still receiving formula. Very recently, he was deemed big and strong enough to be re-introduced back into his troop full-time. According to the keeper staff, who did an amazing job getting him through the first few months of life, he has acclimated beautifully and is doing very well living life as a true Western lowland gorilla.

Through the incredible generosity of two Grow Wild families, much-needed support for the baby’s formula and diapers, neither of which had been anticipated, was provided and a heavy burden was lifted. Now, as we go forward with our gorilla program, we welcome ongoing support and especially sponsorship naming of this beautiful baby boy.

One of the most important ways that we can build support for our animal programs is through a naming sponsorship. To date, the baby gorilla is without a name. For a $50,000 “adoption” or sponsorship, a donor can name the baby, and contribute in a most direct way to the care, training and educational outreach, not only for the infant, but for the entire Western lowland gorilla troop.

As a donor, whether an individual, a family, or a business, you have the opportunity to meet with the keeper staff and learn all about the animal, in this case the baby gorilla. You talk with the animal caretakers about their experiences with the troop and with the individual gorilla. Together you select a name that would be fitting of the animal. Sponsorship and ongoing support of the exhibit, the care of the animals, and a close and personal affiliation with the animal you name will continue on well into the future. It is a rewarding and meaningful way to have a very direct impact on our gorilla program or other animal programs where a new baby may need to be named.

Please contact our Development Director, Janet Rose, if you would like to learn more about becoming involved as a naming sponsor or in any other way. She can be reached at jrose@pittsburghzoo.org or at 412-365-2540.

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Give a bear for a birthday, a

tiger to your team, or a howler

for the holidays. Adopting an

animal is a great gift for any

occasion. When you adopt,

your gift helps provide for the

care, feeding, and enrichment

of Pittsburgh Zoo &

PPG Aquarium animals.

All resident animals are

available for adoption with

packages ranging from $30 to

$500 per year, depending on

the benefits you choose.

Visit our website

pittsburghzoo.org for special

adoption packages. Please call

412-365-2543 to learn more

about this rewarding gift idea.

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The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is Proud to Announce…

We are delighted to introduce our new Foundation & Grants Coordinator, Amy O’Neill. While Amy is officially new to this position, she is anything but new at the Zoo. Amy has been with the Zoo for 18 years. Since 1995, Amy has filled many different roles, including animal keeper and trainer, education specialist, and most recently, development coordinator. Amy is an active member of the Zoo community, and serves as an education liaison for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Otter Species Survival Plan.

Introducing…Yas Hatcher, new Development Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Yas has been with the Zoo for eight years in many different roles. She has progressed through the Visitor Services Department, where Yas gained extensive experience getting to know the organization and becoming familiar with the many programs and projects going on at the Zoo. Yas began as a parking lot attendant, and then made her way to Tram Host within her first summer. The following summer Yas began to drive the Tram and the Train.

By her third summer with Visitor Services, Yas worked as the receptionist, staffing the front desk, answering phone calls and managing the zoo-wide radio. During her senior year of undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Yas interned with both the Marketing and Education Departments at the Zoo. Immediately after obtaining a Communications degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Yas joined the Development Department as the Membership Assistant. Yas is currently a Graduate student at Point Park University, working towards a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and working full time in Development.

Yas Hatcher

Amy O’Neill

News from the International Conservation Center

The International Conservation Center or ICC in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, is breaking ground on a new and critically important project. Phase II of the ICC Facilities is a one-acre elephant cow/calf barn for elephant mothers and their offspring. This 4.5 million dollar project, when completed, will include stalls of various sizes for the elephant mothers and calves, which is critical to support elephant herd structure and maternal instincts. The new barn will include reproductive research laboratories, a large indoor arena enabling the elephants to exercise throughout the year, animal management offices, and a space for staff training and educational programs.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has a long standing commitment to African elephants. Through ground-breaking research, conservation, breeding, and management efforts at the International Conservation Center and at the Pittsburgh Zoo, there is great hope and promise for the future of the African elephant.

To learn more or to donate, please contact our Development Department at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. By phone: 412-365-2540 or visit: ICCdonate@pittsburghzoo.org

dateAPRIL 3, 2014

savethe

Join us for this exciting fashion show benefitting the animals at the

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.For more information contact

412-365-2540.

You can Donate to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium with just a click of a buttonBy supporting the Zoo, you

help save wildlife and wild

places. Gifts to the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium help us

fulfill our mission to be a leader

in zoological conservation,

education, and research, while

providing the region with

exceptional exhibitry and unique

family-centered recreation.

Visit our website for a fast,

convienient, and secure way

to support the Pittsburgh

Zoo & PPG Aquarium at

pittsburghzoo.org/donate.

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One Wild PlacePittsburgh, PA 15206412-665-3640

Zoo Connections is a newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Zoo Connections is a newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

pittsburghzoo.org