OKC ZOO ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM

OKC ZOO ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM

Together, we CAN make a difference…




The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the formation of a conservation small grants program. The Zoo is committed to supporting imperiled species, habitats and their surrounding communities through conservation, research and education, and is offering $10,000.00 for competitive small grants in amounts not to exceed $2,500.00 each through the Conservation Action Now (CAN) Grant Program. The ideal projects will support conservation through one or more of the following methods:

•Education

•Research

•Habitat restoration

•Species preservation

The Zoo is accepting grant applications now through May 14, 2010.

“We are very excited about the new CAN small grant program,” said Brian Aucone, Assistant Zoo Director and head of the CAN Grant Committee. “Conservation and education about imperiled species and their habitats is at the core of our mission here at the Oklahoma City Zoo. With these grants we can offer monetary assistance to conservation-based programs and research around the world. These funds will help many of the small conservation programs that are having a big impact and we are extremely proud to be a part of that.”

Members of the CAN Grant Committee include representatives from all areas of the Zoo: curators, animal keepers, education staff, horticulture staff and veterinary staff. Representatives from Public Relations and the Oklahoma Zoological Society serve in advisory positions.

Grant requests will not be considered for the following:

•Salaries, with the exception of locally-hired support staff

•No more than 10% of awarded funds can be used towards travel expenses.

•Awarded funds cannot be used for direct mail solicitations, funds reimbursement or annual campaigns.

The funds for the CAN Grant Program are generously provided by the Oklahoma Zoological Society, ZooFriends.

Grant guidelines and the application are available on the Zoo’s Web site at http://www.okczoo.com/  Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CST on May 14, 2010. All application materials should be sent in pdf format and submitted to Donna Mobbs, Executive Assistant, at dmobbs@okczoo.com

CONTACTS:


Tara Henson (405) 425-0219, (405) 919-9038, cell or thenson@okczoo.com

Candice Rennels (405) 425-0298, (405) 412-6172, cell or crennels@okczoo.com