Memorials and Tributes

Tribute Gifts

Tribute gifts are a thoughtful way to honor a birthday, wedding, new baby, graduation, or any special occasion. They also serve as a special expression of sympathy by standing as a memory of a friend or relative. Your gift to the Washington Park Zoo will be acknowledged with a letter letting the recipient or their family know a donation has been made in their honor or memory. Honor someone special today!

Memorial Gifts

Pay tribute to a loved one that has passed with a memorial gift to the Washington Park Zoo. Gifts made in memory are a thoughtful way to help uphold a legacy while supporting our mission to be a conservation resource providing experiences that excite and inspire children and adults to learn and act on behalf of wildlife.

Commemorative Leaf

Sponsor a commemorative leaf on the WPZoo donor tree located near the Discovery Center.  These are thoughtful and distinctive ways to recognize a special person or occasion.

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An inspirational display of tributes inscribed on leaves placed on the Dedication Tree Wall. Add a message for a loved one (or yourself).

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• Leaf in gold - a gift of $10,000 Three lines, 34 characters (12 -year sponsorship)

• Leaf in silver - a gift of $5,000 Three lines, 34 characters (9-year sponsorship)

• Leaf in bronze -a gift of $1,000. Three lines, 34 characters (6-year sponsorship)

• Leaf of copper – a gift of $500. Three lines, 34 characters (3-year sponsorship)

Dedicate a Bench

Dedicate a bench at favorite locations throughout the Washington Park Zoo, in addition to being a meaningful honor, commemorative benches help beautify the Zoo and enhance the visitor experience. The Zoo pledges to display the plaques on the bench for no less than 7 years from the time of installation. At the end of that time, the donor will have the opportunity to renew the recognition with an additional gift at the prevailing amount. Bench plaques are available for gifts of $2,000 and $2,500.

Special Naming Opportunities

Establish an enduring link to the Washington Park Zoo. For gifts starting at $25,000, special naming opportunities are available for gardens, entire zoo habitats, and more.

Tree Legacy Program

Trees are a living gift that will add beauty to the Zoo and offer shelter, comfort, and pleasure for years to come.

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• A tree identification plaque displayed at the tree location

• Tree Legacy certificate suitable for framing

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• $2,000: Purchase a new tree to be planted in the Zoo

• $1,000: Adopt a mature, existing tree in the Zoo

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*Because trees are living specimens, the WPZoo will guarantee a replacement or substitute tree if your designated tree dies or has to be removed within five (5) years of the purchase date.

Adopt -A - Garden 

As a 6-month sponsor of an Annual Bed (May – October), your $250 means:

• Your name and/or logo will be displayed on a full -color 5x8 laminated sign on the existing garden bed for the duration of your sponsorship.

• Your name/ and our logo will be displayed at least once on our Facebook page.

• You and your co-workers or family will have the option to work in your sponsored bed under the supervision of our garden curator by appointment.

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As a 6-month sponsor of a Themed Annual Bed (May – October), your $500 means:

• Your name and/or logo will be displayed on a full-color 8x10 laminated sign on the existing garden bed for the duration of your sponsorship.

• Your name/ and our logo will be displayed at least twice on our Facebook page.

• You and your co-workers or family will have the option to work in your sponsored bed under the supervision of our garden curator by appointment.

Planned Giving to the Washington Park Zoo

The Zoo has a mission to nurture respect and appreciation for the natural world by providing diverse education, recreational, and conservation opportunities. It strives to accomplish this through imaginative exhibits, professional animal care, and a commitment to excellence. Your long-term support can have a major impact.

Help ensure that your Zoo will continue to delight and educate visitors, carrying out its mission for generations to come. A gift to the Zoo’s endowment also offers you many personal and financial benefits such as:

Planned Gifts

Planned giving involves providing a future gift to the Washington Park Zoo through your financial and estate plans. A planned gift can provide you with charitable income and/or estate tax deductions, provide for you or your family, and give you the satisfaction of knowing you are leaving a legacy to the Zoo. 

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These are very versatile planned gifts, with many advantages to both the donor and the Zoo. In a charitable remainder trust, you receive income for your lifetime, and, upon your death, the remaining assets go to the Zoo’s endowment. In a charitable lead trust, the income goes to the Zoo for a set period, and, after that, the remainder passes to the person(s) you have designated. There are numerous tax advantages to each trust.

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