2024 Annual Appeal supporting Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

How Your Support Makes a Difference


Your generous donation ensures our ability to care for all of these important animals — to save and preserve their future, and educate our community in the process. 

Contributions, of any amount, help us maintain the important work happening here at the zoo. From excellent animal care and conservation to engaging guest experiences and public education, we rely on your help to implement our important mission. 

Please send what you can to ensure the continued care and protection of some of the most vulnerable species on the planet. 




As the year draws to a close, we wanted to reach out to you, a true friend and champion of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. This year, our animals have brought us endless joy, wonder, and moments that touched our hearts. It’s your love and support that makes it all possible.

Imagine watching the first steps of a baby penguin as it waddles around its parents. Envision Spring, our gentle red panda, delighting in her favorite treat of fresh bamboo. Think of the way the crowd gasps when Siri, our beloved Asian elephant, raises her trunk and trumpets for everyone to hear, showing all the strength and grace that these remarkable creatures bring into our lives. These are moments we cherish, and you make them possible.

Your support is fundamental to ensuring our animals receive not only warm and comfortable habitats but also balanced, species-specific nutrition and the enrichment they need to thrive. Because of your contributions, we can provide these remarkable animals with environments that reflect their natural habitats, promoting natural behaviors and overall well-being. This year, thanks to your help, we proudly earned AZA accreditation once again—a prestigious recognition that underscores our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in animal care and welfare. Your generosity enables us to protect and celebrate wildlife while offering the community a meaningful connection to the natural world.

As you know, caring for animals such as Siri and Spring isn’t easy. It takes resources, dedication, and a community that believes in a brighter future for wildlife. Your gift today ensures that every animal continues to receive the care they deserve, and every visitor, young and old, has the chance to connect with and be inspired by these precious creatures.

When you make a gift to the Friends of the zoo, you’re supporting animals in every corner of the world. Through Species Survival Plans, the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo conservation efforts stretch across continents, helping protect endangered species, restore habitats, and ensure future generations can witness the wonders of wildlife.

Please, make your year-end gift to the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo today. Your support means the world to our animals—and to all that have the privilege of caring for them.

Thank you for the kindness and generosity that you share with our zoo family. 

We couldn’t do this without you.

With heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes for the New Year,

Always grateful,

Carrie Large

Executive Director

Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo