DONOR STORIES

Learn what inspires our donors to support Brookfield Zoo!

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FRAN & ART CLARK

Roots Within the Zoo

"The Brookfield Zoo has always been an important part of our lives. We visit regularly, take advantage of special programs and trips with zoo staff, and serve as adoptive 'parents' to an American Bison and a Dolphin. So when we were presented the task of determining the disposition of our gifts, we didn’t hesitate to name the Brookfield Zoo as a major beneficiary.

"My roots with the zoo go deep. My mother worked at the zoo in the early 1940s, and my grandmother started taking me to the zoo in the mid 1950s. When we married in the 1960s, I introduced my husband Art to all the joys of walking among the animals. The conservation and educational programs put forward by the Society’s administration and board have elevated the Brookfield Zoo to a special category; it is a place where visitors and students can learn and become better citizens of the world. The animal care staff and volunteers are devoted to maintaining and exhibiting an animal population that is diverse and important to our understanding of the world around us. There have been a lot of changes and improvements in the past 50 years, and we hope that our gift will be used to continue on this path."
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BONNIE GREENE

Creating Memories of a Lifetime and Beyond

"My affection for Brookfield Zoo probably began even before my memories did. My parents adored the zoo, and brought my sister and me countless times during childhood. My father was somewhat of an amateur filmmaker, and watching his 16-millimeter film has allowed me the good fortune to re-live many zoo visits over the years. A favorite is of just my father and me – him setting up his camera on a tripod, and then pushing me past it in an old enormous wooden wheeled chair.

"I’ve always been in awe of the powerful beauty of animals, which is why I'm still so drawn to Brookfield Zoo. It's been like a second home, where I can visit my animal friends and see them thrive. A quote, in part, from Henry Beston says it best: “For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear.” My fascination with animals has never diminished, and is now accompanied by a deeper respect of nature as I realize just how delicate and fragile our natural world is. It's one of the reasons I'm proud to be a member of the Edith Rockefeller McCormick Society. My future gift to Brookfield Zoo could be the difference between a child – like I once was – embracing the magical world of wildlife, or never experiencing its wonder."
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MARIE MAROTTA

Keeping Brookfield Zoo Vibrant

"Have you ever listened to the zoo’s sounds? There are peacocks cawing, an occasional roar from one of the bears or lions, and the stampeding buffalo hooves as you travel the tunnel to or from Great Bear Wilderness. There are people sounds too, ranging from oohhs and ahhhhs to crying children and tired adults.

It has always been the sounds of the Hamill Family Play Zoo that I find most mesmerizing. Listen. What do you hear? The sounds of learning, exploration, attempt, awe, amazement, laughter, and release – so many sounds important in the lives of children and their caregivers, whether they’re family or the greater community.

Look. What do you see? An environment in which it is safe to touch, play, crawl, experiment, pretend – things so integral to a child developing skills that, when nurtured, will add grace, blessings, and respect to our world and all of its creatures.

I am honored to be a member of the Edith Rockefeller McCormick Society, joining many others in keeping our Brookfield Zoo alive with sounds and sights."
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LARRY SCHIMKA

A Volunteer Gives Back

"For as long as I remember, Brookfield Zoo has been a part of my life. Throughout my childhood, and now into my adulthood, there has never been a place I would rather go for fun, for conservation education or to experience our natural world.

"I am now at a point in my life where I can look back and reflect on my life’s experiences and consider those who have given me joy and personal satisfaction. Now that I can, it is time for me to give back to Brookfield Zoo, an organization that has given me so much personally. Because I am able, I volunteer my time as a docent, hoping I can share my love and experiences with others. Who knows, maybe I can create a spark in a youngster who will become the next Dr. Anne Innis Dagg. Because I can, I have arranged my personal affairs through the Edith Rockefeller McCormick Society so that when I am gone, the Large Cats and the Pinnipeds will not be forgotten and will have a piece of me.

"It reminds me of the Greek proverb posted inside the Mary Ann MacLean Conservation Leadership Center at the Zoo which says, 'Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.'"
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