NAPLES, Fla. -- Naples Zoo hosted its 2nd annual Zoo Gala on Friday to raise funds and awareness for the Zoo’s educational programs and to establish a major new education center on grounds.
With the help of Co-Chairs, Terry & Bob Edwards and Jody & Gerry Lippes and a dynamic committee, the 2018 Zoo Gala raised more than $1.2 million, breaking the Zoo’s fundraising record for a single event by more than $700,000.
All net proceeds from the event were dedicated to the Zoo’s planned education center and were matched dollar for dollar by The Hamill Family Foundation. When completed, the Zoo’s new education center will feature three distinct classrooms, a dedicated building space for pre-school programming and education staff offices.
With the help of The Hamill Family Foundation $2.5 million challenge match, more than $4.3 million has been raised to date toward the $5.2 million construction costs.
