Dear Friends:
On March 21st and 22nd, the Philadelphia Zoo welcomed over 20,000 guests excited about helping us kick-off our yearlong 150th anniversary celebration. Over the course of the weekend, as I watched public officials, visitors, staff, Zoo members, community leaders, and volunteers gather for this historic celebration, I couldn’t help but think about “the power of many.” Although the Zoo has served as a cornerstone of this great city for many years, we were in awe over the outpouring of support that was bestowed upon us.
It is with sincere gratitude that we thank you - our neighbors and friends – for all you did to wish us well as we acknowledged this momentous milestone.
Your words of kindness in the form of cards, drawings, emails and photographs meant the world to us. Your affection was evident as you brought the animals hundreds of gifts of food and enrichment toys, and your loyalty was unmistakable as you entered through our historic gates to celebrate with us. For all of this, we thank you.
As we embark on the year ahead, we remain committed to conservation, both locally and globally, as well as educating our children - the next generation of protectors of this great planet. We hope you will join us as we continue our celebration as it promises to be a year filled with memory-making moments and, of course, a whole lot of fun.
Again, thank you, Philadelphia, for helping us kick-off a very special year in a very special way.
Vikram H. Dewan
President and CEO
Philadelphia Zoo