Zoo fundraising, support continue
Grass roots efforts total nearly $450,000

LEFT: Students from Catholic High School spent several days building a Lemur habitat on Lemur island.

Reports continue to pour in about ongoing zoo fundraisers and acts of support, and the consensus is that the community has definitely displayed its support for their local zoo.

Last Friday's Poker Safari grossed nearly $50,000 and a final net gain report will be released by the end of the week.

Dr. James Martin, Gulf Breeze resident and Vice President for Student Affairs for Pensacola Junior College, proudly reported that Student had raised over $1,800.00 for the Gulf Breeze Zoo.

"Dana Jackson, SGA Student Activity Coordinator, spearheaded the project and did an outstanding job. With the grass roots effort to raise money, the Zoo has a great chance of surviving," praised "Butch" Branch, PJC L.I.F.E. Center Advisor.

Schools throughout Santa Rosa County have been pooling their pennies and "changing" the future of the zoo with coin drives. Though the tallying has been reported and the coin drives are officially completed, children continue to drop money off at their schools.

TOP: OBE students proudly present their check to Natalie Akin, Zoo Director of Visitor Services.

"We have been so excited about the

raising of money for the zoo! We raised $1,493.43," says Dawn Alt, Principal, Oriole Beach Elementary School (OBE). "Parents and children are asking which school won the competition and the free trip to the zoo."

With most schools reporting, the tally is as follows: Bagdad Bulldogs from Bagdad Elementary School collected $550.00; Gulf Breeze Elementary School students donated $1943.40; Holley Navarre Intermediate students raised $1,079.68; Holley-Navarre Primary School collected $665.79; Oriole Beach Elementary School tallied $1,493.43; and West Navarre Primary School donated $365.80 to the Zoo of Northwest Florida!