Media Contact:
Zoological Society of Florida
Cindy Castelblanco            
Wk: 305-328-8811
cindyc@zsf.org

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF FLORIDA AND BANK OF AMERICA TEAM UP TO BRING WILDLIFE EDUCATION TO HOMELESS CHILDREN

MIAMI, January 7, 2010- Through the generous support of a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the Zoological Society of Florida (ZSF) has recently launched the CLAW (Children Learning About Wildlife) program, aimed at bringing wildlife education and unique animal encounter experiences to the homeless in our community.  The ZSF has joined forces with Community Partnership for Homeless (CPHI), a local nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that is the private partner of Miami-Dade County’s Homeless Trust, to offer the program to children ages 3 to 17 residing at its Homeless Assistance Centers in downtown Miami and Homestead.

The CLAW program is the latest in a long history of support from Bank of America, which includes the Spring and Summer Zoofari Camps, the Caribbean Flamingo Exhibit and other educational programs.  It consists of outreach sessions at CPHI’s Homestead Homeless Assistance Center in which ZSF Education staff introduce the children to live animals from the Children’s Zoo collection to highlight interesting facts about the critters, ecosystems and the importance of conservation, as well as field trips to Miami Metrozoo that feature guided walking tours for residents at both centers.  ZSF estimates that the program will reach approximately 480 children throughout the course of the year.

“Bank of America is proud of its relationship with the Zoological Society of Florida,” said Gene Schaefer, Bank of America market president, Miami-Dade & Monroe Counties.  “The CLAW program allows us to continue to support important environmental education and foster awareness to vulnerable youth in our community, while providing additional assistance to homeless families while they rebuild their lives.”

Families with children are among the fastest growing subsets of the homeless community (Source: US Conference of Mayors, 2007) and make up more than half of the population residing at two of Miami-Dade County's largest homeless assistance centers.  ZSF and Bank of America hope that this program, especially during the current economic recession, will bring smiles to the children being affected by homelessness, engage them in respecting and learning about wildlife, and further understand the importance of conservation.

 
About Bank of America Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America this year embarked on a new, a ten-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Bank associate volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours in 2008 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

About the Zoological Society of Florida

The Zoological Society of Florida, awarded four stars in 2009 by America's premier independent charity evaluator Charity Navigator, was founded in 1956, and is the nonprofit support organization for Miami Metrozoo. Today it is one of the largest membership organizations in South Florida, with approximately 60,000 members. Its activities and programs include fundraising, marketing, volunteer services, educational programs, special events and member programming. Its mission is to encourage an appreciation for the world’s wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations.  For more information, please visit www.zsf.org or call (305) 255-5551.

About Miami Metrozoo

Miami Metrozoo, rated one of the top ten Zoos in the U.S. by Tripadvisor.com in 2008, houses more than 2,000 animals in a cageless setting that approximates the animals’ natural habitats and provides visitors the feel of a safari. Large open air exhibits, a children’s zoo, tram rides, family cycles, a monorail and interactive exhibits make Miami Metrozoo, also named one of America’s Best Zoos and the number one Zoo for Pachyderms in 2008 by The Intrepid Traveler, a unique experience for visitors of all ages. Miami Metrozoo is located at 12400 SW 152 street; Miami, FL 33177. General Zoo Admission is: $15.95 per Adult and $11.95 per Child (3-12), plus tax.  Hours are 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; ticket booths close at 4 pm.  For more information, please visit www.miamimetrozoo.com or call (305) 251-0400.

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