meaningful
impact
DALLAS ZOO
Annual Report 2015
2015 Annual Report
1
MISSION:
Conserving Wildlife
and Inspiring a
Passion for Nature
VISION:
The Dallas Zoo strives to
be a leading U.S. zoo and
premier entertainment,
educational, and visitor
attraction in Dallas.
Looking Back on a BIG Year
As we reflect on 2015, our big year reminds us of our even
bigger responsibilities. Not only do we have the privilege
of caring for our animal residents, we also have a huge
opportunity to inspire and influence future generations to
nurture and protect wild creatures—great and small—for
decades to come.
BIG things happen here in Dallas, according to the Dallas
Convention & Visitors Bureau. And that couldn’t have been
truer for the Dallas Zoo in 2015. From a giraffe birth broadcast
live to millions of viewers worldwide to giant animatronic
dinosaurs to the highest attendance in our 128-year history,
this was a huge year for us.
Even extreme weather was no match for our momentum; we
All this attention opens up big opportunities to focus on the
welcomed more than a million guests for the first time and
core elements of our mission: conservation, animal welfare,
broke our daily attendance record despite heavy rains and
and education. Through your generous support, the Dallas Zoo
flooding, snow, and a summer drought. Kudos to our dedicated
participates in over 167 different Species Survival Plans, which
staff, who worked through it all to make sure our animal
involve many of the more than 2,000 animals in our care here
residents and guests were always comfortable and safe.
at the Zoo. We hosted over 100,000 education visitors and
Big achievements bring big accolades. This year, our innovative
Giants of the Savanna habitat was named a top-3 exhibit in
the nation and the best in Texas by experts and readers of
USA Today. The Zoo garnered worldwide news coverage for
meaningful
impact
our “Giraffe Birth Live” on Animal Planet and a staff member’s
full of
meaning,
purpose,
value
more than 4,000 Zoo campers last year. And our big success
allowed us to give back to our local and worldwide community,
donating $321,714 to conservation causes, heavily discounting
admission for more than 250,000 guests, and providing nearly
115,000 free tickets to schools and community groups.
once-in-a-lifetime local dinosaur fossil discovery. North Texas
Though we’re a source of entertainment to guests from near
residents who hadn’t visited our Zoo in decades found reasons
and far, there’s a much larger impact happening here on a daily
to come back and see how we’ve grown.
basis. And that’s kind of a BIG deal…
Gregg Hudson
President and CEO
G. Michael Gruber
Chairman
Board of Directors
The Dallas Zoo is leading the way in high-standard care of pachyderms.
2015 Annual Report
1
Guest Experience:
Enormous Rewards
Inspiring guests to care about wildlife is immensely
satisfying. Through the Zoo’s keeper talks, special
events, and other attractions, we have the
power to capture the hearts and minds of future
conservationists, scientists, zoo veterinarians...
the possibilities are endless. As our attendance
continues to grow, so do our opportunities to make
a difference.
New King in Town
A lion’s roar can be heard from as far away as five miles.
Kamau, an 11-year-old male weighing 420 pounds and sporting
a massive mane, arrived in the spring from Zoo Atlanta as an
AZA Species Survival Plan recommendation. Kamau makes his
presence known often, regularly vocalizing to his new pride.
Guests enjoy observing his interactions, particularly those with
lioness (and mate) Lina.
‹ Gigantic Visitors
The biggest zoo in Texas got even BIGGER on April 1 with
the opening of the Giants of the Jurassic dinosaur exhibit,
sponsored by the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.
After posing with a “BIG” dino-themed sign near our entrance,
guests roamed along Raptor Ridge to see more than 2 roaring,
animatronic dinosaurs, ride the T-Rex Express mini train, and
dig for prehistoric treasures in raised fossil boxes.
The exhibit also featured the world-renowned, interactive
dinosaur puppet experience of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live
(left) and the Zoo’s popular SOAR wildlife show, re-themed
as “DinoSOAR.” Presented by Kimberly-Clark Corporation,
DinoSOAR’s stars highlighted the connections between
dinosaurs and modern-day animals. Thanks to generous
sponsors and donors, Zoo guests enjoyed the exhibit through
Labor Day at no extra cost.
Top Exhibit in Texas
enormous
rewards
unusually
great in
size:
immense
For the second year in a row, the Dallas Zoo was recognized
by readers of USA Today – this time, for having the best
zoological exhibit in Texas (and third in the nation). Our Giants
of the Savanna exhibit continues to wow guests and the zoo
community alike.
‹ Keeper Talk Expansion
Each week, guests now have more than 120 chances to see
animal residents up close during our keeper talks. During every
chat, zookeepers discuss a resident species and its behaviors,
answering questions and encouraging guests to care about its
wild counterparts.
Sharing our wildlife conservation message with more than 1 million guests can have a tremendous impact.
2
Dallas Zoo
2015 Annual Report
3
Millionth Guest
With our sixth straight year of record attendance, the Zoo
reached a long-awaited milestone by welcoming more than a
million guests in 2015. The Martins from Anna, Texas, were
the special family who helped the Zoo top the mark for the first
time in its 127-year history.
The Martin family was treated to lunch, enjoyed special
animal experiences, and received an exclusive prize package.
In addition, all guests that day rode the Endangered Species
Carousel and the T-Rex Express mini train for free.
Safari Nights
Summer Saturdays were wild during the Zoo’s 2015 concert
series, with more than 10,000 guests enjoying extended hours
and live music on the Cat Green lawn. Guests also could grab
a bite from local food trucks, sip craft beer, and interact with
wildlife from our AT&T Animal Adventures Outreach program.
Of the 228 facilities accredited by the Association
of Zoos & Aquariums, the Dallas Zoo is among
only 30 zoos to reach a million visitors
annually and one of 119 to achieve
continuous accreditation
for more than 25 years.
Fast Facts
Halloween Nights
Thanks to Texas Instruments, more than 11,000 guests enjoyed
a family-friendly Halloween celebration in October, where kids
could trick-or-treat around ZooNorth, take a wild ride on the
Haunted Carousel, laugh at our “Peter and the Wolf” puppet
show, dance along with our Monster Mash stage show, and
meet animals that soar, creep, and slither.
big-picture
learning
broad,
overall view
or perspective
Providing a high-impact educational experience for children of all ages is one of the Dallas Zoo’s core values.
4
Dallas Zoo
2015 Annual Report
5
Education:
Big-Picture Learning
Keeping Species SAFE
According to the World Wildlife Federation, 52% of global
wildlife has been lost since 1970. To combat this steep
decline, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums launched the
Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) initiative in May, an
effort to raise awareness for endangered species and habitats.
With a 106-acre Zoo as their classroom, it’s no
wonder that our guests go wild for our education
programs. Through play and animal experiences,
our staff sparks an interest in STEM disciplines
that can be further stoked through our classes,
youth volunteer assignments, citizen science
projects, and teacher training events.
Education
Facts
LOCAL TEACHERS
MORE THAN
106,000
STUDENTS
visited the Zoo last year,
coming from over 48 different
Texas school districts as
well as private schools and
homeschool groups.
EARNED
5,672
continuing professional
education credits through
Zoo workshops.
As an AZA member institution, the Dallas Zoo’s conservation
and education department highlighted SAFE by hosting special
wildlife weekends to educate guests and inspire them to
make conservation pledges. Zoo guests made 7,687 pledges to
conserve wildlife, from “buying sustainable seafood to protect
African penguins” to “caring for neighborhood trees to help
Texas forest animals.”
Frog Club
After receiving special Texas Parks and Wildlife Amphibian
Watch training, kids ages 8 and up (and their parents) who
belong to the Frog Club worked alongside Dallas Zoo staff for
the benefit of local amphibians. Members learned to identify
different species by sight and sound and met approximately
once a month from April through August, exploring local nature
sites to record how many frog and toad species are at locations
like River Legacy Park in Arlington (nine species in 2015).
Crouch Like a Tiger
In addition to taking the Zoo’s Stroller Buddies presented
by Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Preschool Safari classes,
children ages 3-7 and their parents now can connect to nature
and their own bodies during one of our newest preschool
program offerings – Zoo Yoga. Under the supervision of a
certified yoga instructor on select Saturdays, participants
learn to calm the senses while stretching and practicing poses
inspired by our very own animals.
6
Dallas Zoo
DINO-mite Camps
The Zoo hosted 4,068 campers in its spring, summer, and
winter sessions, including 1,014 kids in our dinosaur-themed
summer camps and 20 high school students in our sold-out
career camp.
Youth Programs
This year, we expanded what was already one of the largest
zoological youth volunteer programs in the country, adding an
opportunity for 17- to 18-year-olds with Zoo experience already
under their belts.
These “senior” returning volunteers, or park ambassadors,
moved up from their previous jobs in the Lacerte Family
Children’s Zoo to guide guests and share conservation messages
at the Herpetarium, Simmons Safari Base Camp, and the Jake L.
Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center. Many of our park
ambassadors have volunteered since they were 11 years old and
have logged hundreds of hours in Zoo service.
For the Birds
On May 2, eight Zoo youth volunteers armed with binoculars
set out on a 12-hour birding expedition, documenting an
impressive 72 bird species in Dallas County. Their eagle-eyed
observations bested more than 100 other teams to earn First
Place in their region of the Great Texas Birding Classic, a
statewide birding competition hosted by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department.
The Zoo’s team of 11- to 16-year-olds submitted their bird
population observations to the ornithological database eBird,
which shares the data with a global community of educators,
land managers, ornithologists, and conservation biologists.
2015 Annual Report
7
Global Conservation:
Massive Undertaking
With so many species threatened by extinction,
the Dallas Zoo continues to collaborate with global
and local partners in hopes of turning the tide,
working to protect their native habitats and combat
illegal trade so that these animals will still be
around for generations to come. We’re also moving
toward as much sustainability in our on-site
operations as possible.
GRACE Center for Rescued Gorillas
In February 2015, Dallas Zoo Mammal Curator Keith
Zdrojewski returned to the Gorilla Rehabilitation and
Conservation Education (GRACE) Center in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo to help conduct the final inspection and
repairs on a hotwire perimeter fence surrounding a new
enclosure for the Center’s orphaned Grauer’s gorillas. He also
supervised the gorillas’ introduction into their new 24-acre
forest habitat.
‹ Earthwatch Institute
Each year, the Dallas Zoo awards two staff members with an
Earthwatch Expedition Fellowship, allowing them to conduct
scientific field research that promotes understanding and
action for a sustainable environment.
massive
undertaking
large in
scale,
amount,
or degree
The Dallas Zoo is working to help protect Texas wildlife, hatching 57 iconic horned lizards in 2015.
8
Dallas Zoo
In 2015, zookeeper Lisa Van Slett (left) participated in a dipterocarp (giant canopy tree) project in Borneo’s Danum Valley
Conservation Area and Malua Forest Reserve, collecting data
to study sustainable logging and its impact on wildlife.
Zookeeper Megan Lumpkin traveled to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, where she studied the effects
of controlled fires and a growing wolf population on the local
Canadian Rockies ecosystem.
Swaziland Rhino Conservation
In the midst of a record-breaking drought, we’re helping the
Kingdom of Swaziland’s Big Game Parks to locate, source, and
import supplementary food for their rhino population, currently
at risk from the unprecedented lack of rain. Additionally,
we’re supporting the country’s long-term conservation plan
by helping to relocate a herd of elephants. This will allow
park managers to better protect critically endangered rhinos
from poachers and provide them with additional space, also
benefiting other species.
2015 Annual Report
9
Tarangire Elephant Project
Tarangire National Park protects the greatest concentration of
elephants in Tanzania and possibly in East Africa by preserving
elephant migration routes, studying elephant movements using
radio collars, helping to formalize community land ownership,
and monitoring wildlife numbers. But as the poaching crisis in
Tanzania escalates, TEP is prioritizing anti-poaching patrols.
Last year’s donation from the Zoo allowed TEP to deploy
additional guards and secure more surveillance flights around
Tarangire, essentially creating a firewall to protect their
elephants.
Turtle Survival Alliance
The Zoo supports the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), an NGO
that utilizes conservation and capacity training to combat
illegal trade in range countries where endangered turtles
and tortoises live. With support for projects and programs
that emphasize captive breeding and rescue in Colombia,
Madagascar, Senegal, and throughout Asia, TSA continues to
expand its global impact and remains committed to a singular
goal: zero turtle extinctions in the 21st century.
A Star Was Born
In April, millions of people
across the globe fell in love
with reticulated giraffes
after watching Dallas Zoo
mother Katie give birth to
calf Kipenzi (above). With
the birth broadcast live on
Animal Planet and streamed
online, viewers became
invested as they watched
Kipenzi come into the world,
take her first steps, and meet
other members of her herd.
Tragically, Kipenzi died in an
accident while shifting to her
Creek Cleanup
night quarters in July. But
On August 8, a team of 125 Zoo staff, members, and volunteers
spent four hours in the Texas summer heat removing litter
pollution from Cedar Creek. Every plastic bottle and bag removed
from the creek stays out of the Trinity River and the critical
estuaries throughout Galveston Bay, not only benefiting creek
wildlife but potentially even the marine wildlife some 700 miles
away in the Gulf.
she hasn’t been forgotten,
with fans continuing to share
messages of remembrance
and support. Kipenzi’s brief
but impactful life also helped
her wild brethren. Gifts made
last year in honor of our
giraffe calves, Kipenzi and her
half-brother Kopano (above),
raised almost $100,000 for
conservation causes, including
donations made to The Giraffe
Conservation Foundation, our
partner at the forefront of
protecting giraffes in Africa.
Free Charging Station
Thanks to a generous donation from Schneider Electric, we
now offer guests with electric cars a free spot to charge their
vehicles near the Zoo’s marquee entrance.
awesome
responsibility
accountable
for something
within one’s
power
Responsible for the health and well-being of more than 2,000 animals, the Zoo’s veterinary
and keeper staff provide exemplary care 24/7/365.
10
Dallas Zoo
Dallas Zoo Contest
Winner,Report
Lisa Pessin
11
2015 Annual
Animal Care and Welfare:
Awesome
Responsibility
Top Inspector
Christopher J. Bonar, V.M.D., Dipl. A.C.Z.M., the Zoo’s senior
director of animal health, was honored as an AZA Inspector
of the Year in 2015. AZA accreditation inspectors donate an
enormous amount of their time, studying up on institutions,
performing site visits, making suggestions for improvement,
and submitting an unbiased recommendation to the
Accreditation Commission.
Dr. Bonar has conducted more than a dozen AZA accreditation
inspections and was recognized for his thoughtful and
thorough methodology. As someone who reinforces top
standards for zoo veterinary care in the U.S., his experience
benefits all of the animals at the Dallas Zoo.
S I G N I F I C A N T H AT C H I N G S
Birds
On April 15, Marina (left)
was the first-ever African
penguin chick to hatch at
the Dallas Zoo. In May, our
bird staff also welcomed
a female white-backed
vulture chick, the first hatched in a U.S. zoo in 19 years
(and as one of only 13 of her species in U.S. zoos,
important to conserving the species).
It’s no small feat to care for our large population of
animal residents – it takes three full-time vets, five
certified vet techs, a full-time animal nutritionist
with a staff of seven, dozens of zookeepers, and
an army of volunteers to keep them healthy,
comfortable, and well nourished. By providing
preventative and other medical care in our stateof-the-art animal hospital, preparing nutritious
meals, and engaging our animals in enrichment
activities, we help ensure their personal well-being
and give their species better chances at long-term
survival. What could be bigger than that?
Healthy Minds
Big Recovery
Many of our zookeepers plan and construct enrichment projects to
keep the Zoo’s animals active and encourage natural behavior. They
also bring in special volunteers to help. Since 2011, 5- to 19-yearolds from the 4-H Dallas chapter have made papier-mâché balls
for our chimps to break open, bamboo curtains that giraffes use to
scratch between their ossicones, and cubes made from fire hose for
elephants to swing in the air with their trunks.
Subira, a 19-year-old Western lowland gorilla, came to the
Dallas Zoo in October 2014 from the Granby Zoo in Quebec,
Canada. In March, he began showing signs of a colon
infection. After starting to make a slow recovery, his condition
worsened with additional complications.
The Zoo’s veterinary team isolated Subira for treatment
at our A.H. Meadows Animal Health Care Facility, where
they consulted with local veterinarians and other medical
specialists to conduct tests and alleviate a growing list of
symptoms. They even took the gorilla off-site to a specialty vet
clinic for a CT scan of his thorax and abdomen (left).
Food presentation and placement also serve as enrichment.
Zookeepers often bury food items around an exhibit, challenging
animals like the red river hogs to forage and dig to find them. To
recognize birthdays and holidays, our animal nutrition staff creates
special “cakes” made from ingredients included in the animals’ diets.
Reptiles
Four fantastic leaf-tailed
geckos hatched last year,
likely the only animals
produced via the AZA’s
species survival plan in
2015. Other significant
hatchings included 37 Wetar Island pit vipers (left), a
species rare among AZA facilities but not new to the
Dallas Zoo (which was the first U.S. zoo to hatch them
in 2008).
12
Dallas Zoo
Fast Facts
OUR MOST VORACIOUS EATERS
The Zoo’s animal residents consume
26,670
Each of our African elephants consumes about
LBS. OF FOOD
EACH WEEK
The Zoo’s annual budget for animal
meals is more than $900,000.
$15,000
After two months of intensive, dedicated care, Subira’s
appetite began to return in May. During a repeat examination
in July, all of his bloodwork and X-rays were normal and an
ultrasound revealed no abnormalities, so Subira was finally
cleared to rejoin his gorilla troop. We’re grateful for the
incredible skill and determination of our Zoo vet team, as well
as our network of area specialists, who all helped to make
Subira well again.
WORTH OF FOOD A YEAR,
MOSTLY IN HIGH-FIBER HAY.
2015 Annual Report
13
Collaboration:
Sharing Big Ideas
Fascination with our animals creates
opportunities to engage the greater Dallas
community and beyond. We leverage that
curiosity and wonder to build interest in
science, wildlife, and conservation. Through our
partnerships, we’re able to expand our influence,
sharing our expertise with a larger audience
while also learning from and helping others.
College Internships and Veterinary Externships
The Dallas Zoo partners with accredited colleges, universities,
and vet schools across the country to offer credits for currently
enrolled undergraduate or post-graduate students interested in
zoo-related careers.
Last summer, 16 university-level interns became actively
involved in the Zoo’s animal care departments, conservation/
research efforts, and administrative positions, contributing a
combined 6,350 hours to Zoo projects while gaining valuable
on-the-job experience and completing in-house professional
development courses. The Zoo’s vet staff also supervised six
vet student externs in 2015.
Valued Volunteers
Zoo volunteers are an integral part of our team, contributing
more than 40,000 hours of their time, effort, and expertise
annually while helping care for our animals and plants, spread
our conservation message, and educate the public. Seventythree volunteers gave at least 100 hours of their time last year,
while the Dallas Master Gardeners (3,564 hours), Kohl’s (1,024
hours), and Farmer’s Insurance (525 hours) donated the most
time as groups.
‹ Simmons Animal Safari
Discovery of a Lifetime
sharing
big ideas
Zookeeper Tim Brys and his son, Wylie, discovered a 96-millionyear-old dinosaur fossil while hunting for fish fossils in Mansfield.
Zoo staff worked alongside paleontologists from Southern
Methodist University and volunteers from the Dallas Paleontological
Society to uncover, transport, and prepare the nodosaur specimen,
which could be a new species.
AT&T Animal Adventures Outreach
a thought,
concept,
or notion
Partnering with area institutions and corporations increases the Dallas Zoo’s reach into the community.
14
Dallas Zoo
Now in its second year, patients and their families at
Children’s Health Dallas look forward to special visits, animal
presentations, and programs via the Zoo’s Simmons Animal
Safari program. In July, an African penguin, a sloth, and a
tamandua were among the animal ambassadors that cheered
up patients and visitors.
ExxonMobil Science Day
Fourteen community partners participated in our 2015
ExxonMobil Science Day at the Zoo event, where organizations
such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas
Arboretum, and Reunion Tower staffed activity booths and
shared science projects and state-aligned curricula with
teachers to use in their classrooms. Participating teachers
earned 1,980 continuing education credits.
Our animal ambassadors participated in 550 programs last year,
107 of those conducted at local schools. Without having to visit
the Zoo, more than 17,000 students learned more about animals,
their behaviors, and their importance to ecosystems through
45-minute interactive programs, which often reinforced lessons
taught in their own classrooms.
2015 Annual Report
15
Community Impact:
Making a BIG Mark
Complimentary Tickets:
Schools and Community Groups
As an attraction, the Dallas Zoo brings in
significant tourism revenue for the City of Dallas,
contributing to our local economy.
DISD Elementary Schools
98,800
Various
Community
Partners
City Council Town
Hall Meetings
(4 districts)
Children’s Health
Simmons
Animal Safari
6,493
5,127
2,301
attendees
attendees
attendees
Wednesday’s
Child
free tickets distributed
Mayor’s Reading
Program and Area
Library Programs
Dallas Park
and
Recreation
983
632
590
participants
participants
attendees
And success at our gates provides us with
opportunities to give back. In 2015, we made it
easier for more than 380,000 visitors to visit the
Zoo via our Community Access Ticket Program and
discounted admissions. Expanding access to local
families and organizations and providing added
value without added cost are just a couple of ways
that we’re able to thank the City and its residents
for their support.
“I am excited to see another successful year
for the Dallas Zoo. As a board member during
the years that we developed a long range
plan leading to its privatization, it is gratifying
to see how well the plan has been executed.
The Dallas Zoo is recognized for its innovative
exhibits, its conservation programs, and its
breeding successes. Nevertheless, the driving
mission is to provide an outstanding guest
experience. The City of Dallas is fortunate to
have the Dallas Zoo as our partner serving the
North Texas community.”
Lee M. Kleinman
City Council Member
City of Dallas
Discounted Admission
DOLLAR DAYS ADMISSIONS
(2 Days)
51,492
attendees
“With record-breaking attendance for six
consecutive years, the Dallas Zoo is a top familyfriendly attraction for residents and visitors and a
valued travel industry partner. The Zoo’s innovative
new additions, such as Giants of the Savanna, and
its strong marketing efforts in partnership with the
Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District and
CityPASS have quickly brought national recognition.
Last year, 24.9 million people visited Dallas.
Those who haven’t visited the Zoo should
and will – keep up the great work!”
Phillip Jones
President and CEO
Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau
5
$
PENGUIN DAYS
January and February
117,580
attendees
5
$
ADMISSION DAYS
August
100,837
attendees
16
Dallas Zoo
Free Experiences
For the price of regular Zoo admission, guests
also enjoyed:
• The Giants of the Jurassic dinosaur exhibit that ran
from April 1 through Labor Day.
• All 10 of our summer Safari Nights concerts.
• Our SOAR and DinoSOAR wildlife shows, which
were staged more than a dozen times per week.
2015 Annual Report
17
Dallas Zoo Management Inc.
and Dallas Zoological Society
Consolidated Financials
For Fiscal Year Ending 9/30/2015
Funds released
from restrictions
6%
Support and Revenue
Contributions, bequests, & sponsorships
Membership
Operating income
(admissions, parking, rides, concessions)
Education
City of Dallas management fee
Funds released from restrictions
Other
Total Revenue (a)(c)
magnanimous
Expenses
Zoo improvements and animal acquisition
Membership activities
Marketing
Animal management
Education and interpretation
Operations and facilities
General and administration
Fundraising
Conservation funding and other
Total Expenses (b)(c)
Capital Expenditures
Change in Net Assets
big-hearted
noble,
generous
$
$
718,000
2,726,000
$
$
$
$
$
$
9,306,000
886,000
14,196,000
1,880,000
140,000
29,852,000
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,470,000
980,000
1,187,000
7,492,000
2,876,000
6,979,000
5,045,000
500,000
470,000
26,999,000
2,594,000
259,000
Other
1%
Contributions, bequests,
and sponsorships
2%
Membership
9%
Operating
income
31%
TOTAL
REVENUE
City of Dallas
management fee
48%
Education 3%
Conservation
funding and other
2%
Fundraising
2%
General and
administration
19%
Zoo improvements and
animal acquisition
5%
Membership activities
3%
Marketing
4%
Animal
management
28%
TOTAL
EXPENDITURES
Operations and facilities
26%
Education and
interpretation
11%
(a) Revenue excludes restricted funds received or pledged.
(b) Expenses exclude non-cash expenses, e.g., depreciation.
(c) Revenue and expenses exclude the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park.
By generating revenue and being fiscally responsible, the Dallas Zoo is able
to help conserve species at serious risk, like the Galápagos tortoise.
18
Dallas Zoo
2015 Annual Report
19
2014 - 2015
2015 Dallas Zoo
Philanthropic Investors
Board of Directors
The Dallas Zoo would like to acknowledge
the generous individuals, corporations, and
foundations who contributed to the Zoo’s
operations between Oct. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31,
2015. Your passion for and dedication to nature
and wildlife are what make our efforts to be an
outstanding center for education, entertainment,
and wildlife conservation possible.
OFFICERS
G. Michael Gruber, Chair
John I. Levy, Immediate Past Chair
Diane Brierley, Vice Chair
Jennifer Eagle, Vice Chair
Lois Finkelman, Vice Chair
Gayla Von Ehr, Vice Chair and Secretary
Stephen B.L. Penrose, Treasurer
Darrel A. Rice, General Counsel
Gregg Hudson, President and CEO*
DIRECTORS
William J. Alcorn
Thomas F. Allen Jr.
Jennifer Burr Altabef
Nicole Anderson
Will C. Beecherl
Lane Britain
Charlie W. Chen
Peyton Cook
Emily Corrigan
Barbara Daseke
Jesus H. Delgado-Jenkins
Karen Drayer
Steven H. Durham
Kurt Eichenwald
Scott Ellington
Ruben Esquivel
Martha Fordyce
The Honorable Elba Garcia, D.D.S.
Gina Ginsburg
Denise Zook-Glazer
Carla Gourley*
Nevin Grinnell
Angela Y. Guillory
Cindy M. Gummer
Kevin Hanrahan
Matt Houston*
Richard O. Kopf
Veronica S. Lewis
Robert B. Little
Sarah Losinger
J. Christopher Luna
Jerry Miller
Chelen Moore*
Dawn Enoch Moore
Ruth O’Donnell Mutch
Maria Martineau Plankinton
Douglas E. Rabe
M. Brad Rejebian
Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr.
Lynn Rupp*
Justin A. Shipley
Thomas H. Stewart
Patty Stone
Ann Stuart, Ph.D.
Joan Walne
Mark S. Walsh
Ellen Winspear
Gary Wojtaszek
Carter Wood
*Ex officio non-voting member
DALLAS ZOO & CHILDREN’S
AQUARIUM AT FAIR PARK
SENIOR STAFF
Gregg Hudson
President and Chief Executive Officer
LIFETIME BENEFACTORS
Gayle Anderson
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
of Business Administration
The Dallas Zoo is pleased to recognize a very special
category of donors. Lifetime Benefactors are those
individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations
who have given or pledged $1 million or more cumulatively
in order to help sustain and build the Dallas Zoo. We are
deeply honored to have their support.
Doug Dykman
Vice President of Operations and Facilities
William L. Evans
Special Counsel
Sean Greene
Vice President of Guest Experiences
Karen Hamilton
Associate Vice President of Advancement
(Above) Emerald City rocked Zoo To Do 2014:
Jewels of the Kalahari.
Lynn Kramer, D.V.M.
Vice President of Animal Operations
and Welfare
Lacey LaPointe
Vice President of Advancement
Patricia McGill, Ph.D.
Vice President of Conservation
and Education
The Estate of William M. Beecherl
Diane and Hal Brierley
City of Dallas
The Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Nancy B. Hamon
Highland Capital Management LP
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Joyce and Larry Lacerte
The Eugene McDermott Foundation
The Meadows Foundation Inc.
Betty Moroney Norsworthy Charitable Trust/
James M. Moroney Jr. Trustee
Harold Simmons Foundation
Gayla and Jim Von Ehr
(Above) The chef dinner is a popular live auction item at Zoo To Do.
20
Dallas Zoo
2015 Annual Report
21
$100,000+
Anonymous
Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation
The Theodore and Beulah Beasley
Foundation Inc.
Diane and Hal Brierley*
The Estate of Lorraine E. Burt Jr.
Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District/
Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau
Highland Capital Management LP*
Carol and John Levy*
The Eugene McDermott Foundation
McGee Foundation
Ruth O. Mutch*
Stephen B.L. Penrose*
Ann Stuart in memory of Ray R. Poliakoff,
her beloved husband*
Gayla and Jim Von Ehr*
$50,000 - $99,999
American Airlines Inc.
Anonymous
AT&T
Communities Foundation of Texas
Durham Family Foundation
Frost Bank
Carol and Don Glendenning*
Nancy and Doug Rabe*
Walne Family*/Herb’s Paint and Body Shops
$25,000 - $49,999
Tammi and Jay Adair
Allyn Media
Anonymous
Mary McDermott Cook*
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Mr. and Mrs. Jesus Delgado-Jenkins
Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Jennifer and John Eagle*
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Lois and Ross L. Finkelman*
Kara and Randall Goss/U.S. Risk
Insurance Inc.
Cindy M. and Charles L. Gummer*/The
Cindy M. and Charles L. Gummer Fund
of The Catholic Foundation
Al G. Hill Jr.*
Hyatt Regency Dallas
Junior League of Dallas
Kimberly-Clark Foundation Inc.
22
Dallas Zoo
KVIL
Julie and Robert Little*
Dawn and Steve Moore
New Birmingham Inc.
Reunion Tower
The Edgar A. Robinson Family*
Stephen M. Seay Foundation
Patti and John Sebastian
Mary and Mike Terry*
Texas Instruments/Texas Instruments
Foundation
Wendy and Gary Wojtaszek*/CyrusOne
$10,000 - $24,999
A Bar N Ranch*
Lydia and Bill Addy
Michael D. Andereck
April Bosworth
Bank of America
Barbara Blaylock
Richard K. Blaylock
Kate and Lane Britain*
Annie and Brent Brown
Jane and Bill Browning Family Fund of
the Communities Foundation of Texas
Johnette and Kirk Brunson
Rebel B. Calhoun
Serena and Tom Connelly*
Barbara and Don Daseke
Averille and Stewart Dawson*
DFW Kids Directory
Julia and Louis Dorfman*
Karen and Phil Drayer*
Alan L. Folz Jr.
Cathy K. and Alfred Fraser
Diane and Mike Gruber*
Alisha and Christopher Gummer
Gail and Gary Hartstein
Lyda Hill*
Jennifer and Doug Houser*
M. R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation
Jackson Walker LLP
Ingrid and Rick Kopf
Bailey and Robert Lavinsky
Locke Lord LLP
Stacy and Mark McKay
NCH Corporation*
Terry and John Norris
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
Overhead Door Corporation
The Perot Family*
The Perryman Family*
Jack Pew Jr.
PwC
Rosewood Corporation*
Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Ryburn/
Harry S. Moss Foundation*
Service Systems Associates
Gretel and Justin Shipley*
Jeffrey A. Starr
Susan and Bill Swift
Ann and Jeff Swope
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
Beverly and Bill Warren
Ona and Ken Willingham*
Ellen and Don Winspear*
$5,000 - $9,999
Patti and Bill Alcorn*
Allegiance Title Company
Jennifer and Peter Altabef*
American Film Institute
Andres Construction Services
Angama Mara
Anonymous (3)
Elizabeth and Michael S. Brown*
Shelly and Thomas Codd*
Emily and David Corrigan*
Kathy and Harlan Crow*
The Dallas Foundation
Jane Williams Davis*
Elsie and Marvin Dekelboum Family
Foundation
Alina and Ruben E. Esquivel*
Julie and Bill Evans
Denise and Steven Glazer*
Cameron and Jay Gummer
Michelle and Ryan Gummer
Margaret and Doyle Hartman*
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory W. Hext
Shyla T. High M.D.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark Hunt*
Patricia Hyde*
Ben E. Keith Foundation
KIND LLC
Kohl Foundation
Kohl’s
Kroger
Beth and Dan Landsberg
Macy’s
Holly and Tom Mayer
Amy and Michael Meadows
Mega Capital
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Moore Jr.*
Denise and Ray Nixon
Dan Patterson
Pediatric Associates of Dallas
Plains Capital Bank
Cynthia and R. Lynn Rea
Jeffrey and Darrel Rice*
Stacy and Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr.
Sallie A. Scanlan*
Laurie and Steve Smith
Southern Botanical Inc.
The Marianne and Roger Staubach Fund
of The Catholic Foundation
Patty and Dennis Stone*
Texas Capital Bank
Tolleson Wealth Management
Westwood Trust
Robin and Karl Zavitkovsky
$1,000 - $4,999
Abacus
Silvia Alba and Marsha Horton*
Amegy Bank of Texas
Nicole and Justin Anderson
Anonymous (2)
Asador
AT&T Services Inc.
Lee Bailey
Carol and Steve Baker
Barth Family Fund of The Dallas Foundation*
Allison and Jarrod Bassman*
Becks Prime LTD
Carol and Eric Biggerstaff*
Boeckman Family Foundation
Matilde and Brett Borchers*
Paige and Greg Bordelon
Bountifull LP
Carole L. Braden and Vera LoCurto*
Julie and Cyrus Brock
Janet S. and Brian Brode
Susan and David Brown
Susi and Peter Brundage*
Karen Brustman
Melissa and Nick Bunch
Tracy and Tim Cantrell
Connie and Denny Carreker*
Leslie and Chuck W. Carroll*
Casa Rubia
Catering of the Dallas Zoo
Jamie and Jeff Cawyer*
Chief Executives Organization Inc.
Children’s Health
Missy and J.E.R. Chilton
Barbara Christ*
Julie Cianella and Bethany Shaffer*
Cinemark Theatres USA
Carolyn and James H. Clark Jr.*
Hayley and Gary Cogill
Morgan and Walter Coleman*
The Container Store
Shirley W. Cooper
Lou Ann and Michael R. Corboy*
Joan and Dennis Cox
Betsy and Guinn D. Crousen
Trammell S. Crow*
Dallas International Film Festival
Dallas Summer Musicals
Dallas Zoo Docents
Mark Daniels
Lorraine and Henry M. Darley*
Pilar H. and Paul L. Davies III
Ben Davis
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Dragonfly Restaurant
Cheryl and James Drayer
Karen and Robert Drewry
Elise Dunklin and Margaret Dunklin*
Barbara and Steven Durham*
Tara and Bill Durham
Susan and Terry Eckert*
Empire Baking Company
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Lori Ericsson*
Sandra and Henry Estess*
ExxonMobil Foundation
James R. Field and William Perry
Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck
Nancy and Joe Foran
FTI Consulting*
Lara and Chad Gaither*
Elba and Domingo Garcia
Kurt Geisler
Carolyn and Damian Giangiacomo*
Patricia and William Gibson*
Gina Ginsburg*
Fran and George Graffy*
Greater TEXAS Federal Credit Union
Tasha and Benjamin M. Greenberg
Ed Haggar Family Foundation
J. M. Haggar Jr. Family Foundation
The Hair Bar
Dr. Barbara B. Haley*
Karen and Wayne Hamilton*
Kathy and Kevin Hanrahan*
Ida and Ed B. Hassler*
Haynes and Boone LLP
Hermès of Paris
Highland Park Village
Hilton Anatole Hotel
HKS Inc.
Sherri and John Holbrook
Holmes Murphy & Associates Inc.
Kathy and Richard Holt
Linda L. Holt and Joseph McElroy III*
Sandi and John Holzgraefe*
Marisa and Will Huckin*
Merrick and Stuart Huckin*
The Howard Hughes Corporation
Ideal Marketing Group
Sue and Phillip John*
David B. and Leslie G. Katz Charitable
Foundation of the Dallas Jewish
Community Foundation*
KCKL 95.9 FM
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Kelley
Khashana Adventure Travel Safari Planning
Caren and J. Peter Kline/
Kline Family Foundation*
Diane Knape and David Biegler
Thomas Kohlmeier
Karla and Brett D. Krafft
Candace and Jim Krause
Scott Lane
Katie and Pierre Lavie
Craig and Carrie Levering Charitable
Foundation
Barbara Little
LKS Foundation Inc.
Bobby B. Lyle
Dr. and Dr. Willis C. Maddrey*
Margaux’s a restaurant by design
Mary Kay Inc.
Lynn and Michael Matthews
Jo and Billy Mattison
Madeline and James McClure*
McDonald’s of Greater North Texas*
Pat and Charles McEvoy*
Alicia and Mark McGovern
Elaine and Kenneth P. Mecca*
Meso Maya
Kim and Greg Miller
Tina and Gerald R. Miller
2015 Annual Report
23
Barbara and Gerald T. Montgomery*
Morgan Stanley Foundation
Mozzarella Company
Ann and John R. Muir*
Betsy and Steve Myers
Neiman Marcus
Janiece and Jimmy Niemann
Northern Trust Company Charitable Trust
Nothing Bundt Cakes - Dallas
Alice and Erle Nye
Mary L. O’Connor and Harold F. Marshall*
Mary and Edward Oleksiak
Optimus Recruiting LLC
Laura Osler
Ruthie and Jay Pack
Suzanne and David Palmlund
Kelley and Scott Parel/Sidley Austin LLP
Parigi
Parish Episcopal School
Jennifer and Pablo Pascal*
People Newspapers
Photillustrator
Plains Capital Corporation
Mary C. Plank and Eugene Hart
Maria M. and Kip Plankinton*
Gail and Bill Plummer
Caren Prothro/Vin and Caren Prothro
Foundation*
J. Michael Putman M.D.*
Radio Disney AM 620
Lisa and Jestun Ramsey*
Carolyn and Karl Rathjen*
Erika and Jason Ray*
Kathleen and Christopher Ray*
Karen Riker
Susan and James Riley
Richard Roder
Leslie and Randy Root*
Deedie and Rusty Rose*
Rachel Rucker-Schmidt and Jason Schmidt*
Debra E. and Russell A. Rudduck
The Ruff Family Foundation of the
Communities Foundation of Texas*
Sylvia and Hernan Saenz
Safeway Inc.
Amy and Scott Samford*
Katie and Yosi Samra
Linda and Steve Sanderson
Savor Dallas
Schneider Electric
Lisa and Kenneth Schnitzer*
Mary C. Schoals
24
Dallas Zoo
Diane K. and John F. Scovell*
SER Steak + Spirits
Beverly and Henry Sermersheim*
Sevy’s Grill
Catherine and Rick Shae
Lisa and Marvin Singleton
Sissy’s Southern Kitchen
Chell Smith
The Spanos Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Ben H. Sparkman*
Maryellen and Ron Spears
Robin and Wes Speed
Studio Movie Grill
Julie and James Sturm*
Suze Restaurant
Ten 50
Texas Motor Speedway
Andrea and Steve Thompson
Tillman’s Roadhouse
Emily and Stephen Timon*
Tootsies
Tricolor Auto Group LLC
Trinity Groves
Turner Construction Company
Two Sisters Catering
Liz and Robert Vial
Erin and Larry Waks
Candi and Steve Walder
Karen L. Waller
Margaret and Mark Walsh
Sandy Watson
Christina and Landon White
Tara Whitehead-Stotland and Harvey
Stotland*
Dr. and Mrs. Kern Wildenthal*
Ward Williford
Alicia and Chris Winn*
Lacy and Kelley Winsor*
Winstead PC
Kristina and Wesley E. Yarbrough
Charnette and John Young*
$500 - $999
Devon Alter
Jenny Anchondo
Travis Andres
Anonymous
AT&T Foundation
Bank of America Matching Gifts Program
Elizabeth and Lawrence N. Barron
Tina S. and John Barry
Scott Bedford
Chelsia and Ned Beiser
Charles Benefield
Bistro 31
Joan and Gunnar Blomquist
Roxanne and Randy Brennan
Jennifer and Jeffrey Bridges
Mary and Bennie Brigham
Susan C. and James D. Bryan
Christina Chapman and Tina Chapman
Sharon and Robert Chudnow
CLR Design
Andrea and George Conklin
Rebecca Connaster
Stephanie and Peyton Cook
Lynn and Ken Corniello
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Couch
Wendy J. and Christopher Davis
Lynn T. Dealey
Holly and Doug Deason
Marty Delemos
Anne and Bernie DiFiore
Donna DiStefano and Ralph De Berardini
John Drezek and Randall Methenitis
Wanda Dwyer
Ann and Charles W. Eisemann
Emerald City Band Inc.
Jennifer and Michael Emerson
Escada
Matt Esparza
Dwight Estep
Kris and Dave Evans
Steffanie and Eric Evans
Karen P. and Gerald L. Faulconer
Maryanne Fego
Gail and Clifford Fischer
Cathy and Gary Fisher
Grace and Bruce Flanary
F M Forrest Inc
Walter Foxworth
Amanda and Mark Francis
John Gardner
Angela Geiger and Andrew Allard
Martin Giesecke
Jane Gilday
Joyce Goss
Donna and Louis Grabowsky
Tracy and Sean Greene
Dorothy and Lee C. Groves
Angela and Stanford Guillory
Ted Hamilton
Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Hamlin
Susan S. and Thornton Hardie III
Michelle Hartman
Leigh Anne Haugh
John Hay
Heather Hays and Patricia Vazquez
Judi Hensley
James Ho
Elizabeth and Stuart A. Howard
Grant Irving
Stazlette and Joseph Johnson
Becki and Jimmy Jolly
David Jones
Sharon Jones
Thomas L. Kelly
Robert Kerr
Ellen L. Key and Silvia Key
Jennifer and David Knickel
Rachel and Ben Kurian
Macy and Jeff LaPatra
Jennifer W. and Andrew Lawrence
Pat and Van Lazaroff
Donnabeth and Barry Leffler
Levi Strauss Foundation
Wade Lowe
Gretchen Lukas and Christine Massey
Mariano’s/La Hacienda Ranch
Peggy Marshall
Reba J. and Richard K. Martin
Sara and David F. Martineau
Clea Mattingly and Judith Shure
Louisa and Jack Mayfield
Christine and Bob McKenny
Diane McNulty
Jill and David Mellinger
Amy E. and Lawrence Milano
Jo and Randy Morast
Autumn and Michael Moss
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Diane and John Nealon Jr.
Jennifer and Larry Norrell
Lisa and Bill Ogle
Diana B. and German A. Oliver
Padfield and Stout LLP
Trudie and Michael Paschetag
Natalie G. and Matt Perry
Lori and Michael Polosky
Brian Rabe
Bill and Jane Rhule
Connie and Mark Riley
Vickie and David Robison
Karen and David Rooker
Martha Ross
Nancy and David Saustad
Stefanie Schneidler and
Jeffrey M. Robinson*
Scubadillo Dive Club
Cindy Brinker Simmons
Lisa K. Simmons
Matthew Simon
Judy Smith
Vera and Gary L. Smith
Nancy and Rene Somodevilla
Caroline E. Spencer
Spring Creek Partners
Miriam Star
Tommy and Barbie Stewart
Marietta and David Swift
Will Taylor Photography
Thailan T. Tran and Steven J. Roth
Traylor Bros. Inc.
Judith and Stephen D. Trowbridge
Laura and Bryan Trubey
Uli’s Boutique
Urban Paws
Emily and Daniel Vafa
Donna and Kevin Vanous
Kanokwan and Brian von Merveldt
Mary and Ryan Watts
Diane and George Dorian Wendel
Wilderness Safaris
Marguerite Wisdom-Cook and John D. Cook
Karen and Lee Witt
Shannan and Gregory Wolter
Henny Wright and Ed Stead
Ann Wysong and John Vuyosevich
Angela and Luis Zambrano
MEMORIALS
Gifts were made in memory of the following
loved ones.
Helen Holliday Alcorn
Brenda and David Snitzer
Elanor De Shong
Penny Frazier
Thomas England
Betty Gibbons
Darlene J. (De) McCombs
Tom Chapman
Cynthia and Doug Edwards
Craig Holcomb and Hector Garcia
Joanne and Tim Lee
Jay McCaulay
Kerry Rhines
Fran Schulty
Penny Frazer
Lauren R. Smith
Anonymous (2)
Melissa Battis
Mary Brugger
The Grahm Family: Christian, Stacye,
Tyler, and Chelsea
Mary Kuhlman
Mary Schoals
Pat and Bill Sullivan
Chris Veenker
Joe Robinson
Erica and John Dennis
Bill Tinkle
Sheila Jean Martin
HONORARIA
Gifts were made in honor of the following
individuals.
Diane Brierley
Ellen and Don Winspear
G. Michael Gruber
Elizabeth and Bob Gunby
Teri LaJone
Bonnie B. and John Tollefson
John I. Levy
Ilana and Allen Levitt
Enid Robinson
Melanie Rasansky
Ellen Winspear
Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
* President’s Circle member
Italics indicate gifts in-kind
The Dallas Zoo strives to provide accurate
recognition of our donors. If you feel there has
been an error or omission, please contact the Zoo at
469.554.7444 so that we may correct our records.
Due to space limitations, we are only able to list
gifts of $500 or more received between Oct. 1, 2014
and Dec. 31, 2015.
2015 Annual Report
25
impact
responsibility
learning
ideas
meaningful global
purpose
sharing
D a l l a s Zo o a n d C h i l d r e n ’s A q u a r i u m a t Fa i r Pa r k
6 5 0 S . R . L . T h o r n t o n Fr e e w a y, D a l l a s , T X 7 5 2 0 3 - 3 0 1 3
4 6 9 . 5 5 4 . 7 5 0 0 | D a l l a s Zo o . c o m