2023 Impact Report

A LIFETIME OF IMPACT

installed at the Zoo’s exit. The wall proudly features donors whose cumulative gifts and bequests, using records available, deserve permanent recognition. The wall includes six panels with categories of $100,000+, $500,000+, $1M+, $2.5M+, $5M+, and $10M+. The prominent location ensures that every visitor cannot miss how grateful we are for our donors’ dedication. We plan to install a similar lifetime donor recognition wall at The Wilds in the future. We look forward to updating this wall annually and recognizing donor impact on the Columbus Zoo and the animal world.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is tremendously grateful for the generous support of all our donors. Together, we are positively impacting people, wildlife, and wild places and fulfilling our mission of “Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.” This collaboration has helped us achieve our coveted designation as one of the nation’s best zoos and a highly impactful wildlife conservation organization. Our Zoo has been built by our community – visitors, donors, community leaders, corporate partners, and the voters of Franklin County. To honor our community’s commitment, in 2023 a lifetime donor giving wall was

JACK HANNA LEGACY SOCIETY

The long-term support of our JHLS members is instrumental to the continuation of our groundbreaking work that benefits the animals in our care and conservation efforts locally and around the world. In 2023, we added 19 new members to the JHLS, which now includes over 150 member households. We are incredibly thankful for longtime Adopt an Animal donor, Susan Au Arnold, and frequent Zoo visitor, Marilyn Guerard, whose unrestricted legacy gifts are helping us transform the habitats and visitor experiences with the animals in our North America region to create North America Trek.

We are so grateful to the members of the Jack Hanna Legacy Society (JHLS). The JHLS was created in part to thank and acknowledge donors to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds who have let us know that we are in their estate plans. We are both honored and humbled by our legacy donors. No matter the size of the legacy gift, we are truly grateful as we know that a legacy gift is a direct expression of trust in our organization and a commitment to our future. Like Jack Hanna, our legacy donors inspire others to become lasting partners in our mission of “Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.”

Whether through an estate bequest, life insurance policy, or retirement account beneficiary designation, we welcome the opportunity to meet and share information with anyone considering a legacy gift to the Columbus Zoo or The Wilds. We are committed to being excellent stewards for all of our legacy donors. We have a special event every year to thank and honor our legacy donors. To learn more, call (614) 724-3613 or email legacygiving@columbuszoo.org.

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