Community Foundation awards $300,000 grant to Birmingham Zoo

Grant will be used to develop new park between Trails of Africa and Asian Passage exhibits.

The Birmingham Zoo attracts nearly 575,000 visitors a year, with one of its most popular attractions being the Trails of Africa. Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation and additional private donations, visitors will soon be able to enjoy a new park and event space as they travel between the Trails of Africa and the Asian Passage, a new exhibit included in the Zoo’s future construction plans.

“We believe that community assets like the Birmingham Zoo are vital to our culture and to attracting tourists,” says Christopher Nanni, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. “The leadership at the Zoo is doing a remarkable job of continuing to transform the Birmingham Zoo into one of the top facilities in the nation and we are pleased that this grant will help to continue that transformation.”

The new park area will be more than just a green space; it will serve as a venue for private and public events as well as a rest and play area for visitors. Existing water sources in the area will be used to create natural water features and soil from the excavation for the Trails of Africa exhibit will be used for landscaping. Construction of the new park will begin the first quarter of 2016. (See attached rendering for more details.)

Birmingham Zoo CEO and President, Dr. William R. Foster, says, “The Birmingham Zoo is very grateful to the Community Foundation for their generous support. Their continued confidence in the Zoo’s growing future is a testament to our success. The opportunity to expand our community attraction and support our mission wouldn’t be possible without organizations like the Community Foundation and the support of the Zoo’s donors.”

During December the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham awarded a total of $1,431,000 in grants to 27 area nonprofits in Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties. These grants support major projects like the Zoo as well as collection of innovative initiatives ranging from a pilot program for electronic recycling to a portable dance studio for pop-up dance performances in downtown Birmingham.

Founded in 1959, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is a permanent charitable endowment that serves Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties and is the oldest and largest community foundation in Alabama. The foundation awards grants to non-profits throughout the area from donor-advised funds as well as through a biannual competitive grant process. Through grantmaking, convening and leading, the Community Foundation works in partnership with donors, nonprofits and the community to improve the life of the Greater Birmingham region. For more information and a complete listing of grants awarded, go to www.cfbham.org.

Press Release