NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Winners of Zoo Wild Week Contest Announced

This spring, 35 local schools raised $16,029 for the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo’s new African Journey exhibit by participating in a Wild Week program offered by the zoo.  The Wild Week program included $2000, $1000, and $500 gift certificates from Sweetwater Sound for the three schools with the highest per student donation level.

The winning schools were announced at a press conference earlier today.  The winners are:

1st place:  Ascension Lutheran School; Tommy Franke, Principal; $2,000 gift certificate to Sweetwater Sound

2nd place:  LaOtto Elementary School; Rebecca Perkins, Principal; $1,000 gift certificate to Sweetwater Sound

3rd place:  Hoagland Elementary School; Marilyn Hissong, Principal; $500 gift certificate to Sweetwater Sound

Background:

Local schools were invited by the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo to host a Wild Week at their school.  The purpose of the Wild Week was to raise funds for the new $9 million African Journey project and to increase awareness about African animals.  The zoo provided educational materials on African animals, geography, and culture to each school. Students were encouraged to bring in spare change and place it in a money collection container styled like a 2-foot-tall African drum during Wild Week.

School children have had a special relationship with the zoo since its establishment in 1965.  “I remember putting my pennies in a canister at school to help build Monkey Island,” says Zoo Director Jim Anderson.  “While we are very appreciative of the schools’ financial support, we are equally pleased with the awareness and excitement that Wild Week has generated for the African Journey.”

“Having a Fort Wayne-based business provide incentives for the schools is tremendous,” Anderson says.  “We know the students and teachers will enjoy their new music equipment from Sweetwater.”

In all, more than 13,000 students from 35 schools participated in Wild Week, including students in Fort Wayne Community Schools, East Noble School Corporation, Fort Wayne Lutheran Schools, North Adams Community Schools, East Allen County Schools, Canterbury School, Imagine Schools, Huntington Community Schools, and local preschools.

The African Journey, which features lions, hyenas, giraffe, ostrich, giant pelicans, vultures, and more, opens on June 6.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the area’s major attractions and was recently named one of the country’s “Ten Best Zoos for Kids” by Parents magazine.

The zoo is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from until October 11.  Admission is $12.00 for adults, $8.00 for children age 2-14 and $10.00 for seniors over age 60.  Babies age 1 and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free.

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