TD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FUNDS ZOO’S “CONNECTION CORNER”
Elmwood Park Zoo has received a generous grant from the TD Charitable Foundation that will directly support the creation and operation of its new Connection Corner. Connection Corner is a dedicated space in the zoo that will feature daily presentations highlighting individual members of the animal ambassador collection.
Before the creation of the Connection Corner, the animal ambassadors would typically only be seen outside of the zoo, taking part in Zoo-On-Wheels programs that visit schools and public events. The Connection Corner not only provides these animals with a new dedicated space to appear, but it also provides the zoo’s education staff with space to exercise the animals while interacting with guests.
TD Charitable Foundation’s $35,000 grant provides for the Connection Corner’s daily operation, as well as other educational programs that the zoo uses to support its mission of promoting wildlife and environmental conservation.
The Connection Corner is open daily, weather permitting, and is located across from the zoo’s playground. Appearance times vary throughout the day; for more information, guests are encouraged to check the zoo’s website at elmwoodparkzoo.org, or download the Elmwood Park Zoo mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices.
About TD Charitable Foundation
The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $222 million through nearly 21,000 grants through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including the online grant application, is available at https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/
About Elmwood Park Zoo
Established in 1924, Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown is home to dozens of wild and endangered species. As a nonprofit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, its mission is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation.
Elmwood Park Zoo Receives $20,000 Grant from SEI Cares Fund
Elmwood Park Zoo is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 grant from the SEI Cares Fund, a charitable donor-advised fund of SEI Investments Co. The grant will be used to continue the zoo’s “Touch Tours” program, which provides tactile and sensory-driven experiences for blind and auditory-impaired children.
“SEI Cares has sustained the ‘Touch Tours’ program for a number of years, and for that, I am extremely grateful,” said Jennifer Conti, Elmwood Park Zoo’s Development Director. “With their support, the zoo can offer more than just a visual experience. Now, students with diverse needs can experience the zoo in a manner that is native to their learning styles; they can feel the soft pelt of a chinchilla, smell the sweet grain of our barn feed, and hear the calls from the Connelly Foundation Birds of Paradise exhibit. It is truly a unique program, and one that we are proud to offer.”
The grant also provides for zoo staff to attend continuing-education classes with teachers from the Overbrook School for the Blind. These classes help the zoo to improve their programs and become a more inclusive facility.
Guests can learn more about Elmwood Park Zoo’s accessibility services and amenities by visiting elmwoodparkzoo.org/visit/accessibility-amenities.