Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo recognized by the City of Santa Ana for Community Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 1, 2010
Contact: Cathi Decker
FOSAZ Executive Director

(714)953-8555 x11

cdecker@fosaz.org

The City of Santa Ana recognized the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo, a non-profit organization established in 1975 to support the Zoo, with a 2010 Community Building Award from the Community Development Resource Network for their significant contribution in community outreach and building relationships with the residents of Santa Ana. The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo were acknowledged under the Organizational Partner Project in the Category of Chief Executive/Organizational Leader.

Certificates of Recognition were presented to Cathi Decker, Executive Director, and Steve McGuigan, Executive Board Member, representing the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo, for their dedication and leadership to “Help Build A Better Community” from Santa Ana Mayor, Miguel Pulido; Supervisor, First District and Chair, Board of Supervisors, Janet Nguyen; Assemblyman, 68th District, Van Tran; Assemblyman, 69th District, Jose Solorio; State Senator, 34th District, Lou Correa; and United States Congress Member, Loretta Sanchez.

The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo began with a group of volunteers who collected feed coins from the Farm area and donated the funds to Zoo improvements.

Over the past 35 years, FOSAZ has grown and expanded, running many of the current Zoo’s operations, including the Gift Shop, Party Rentals, Train and Carrousel Rides and Membership Program. FOSAZ also is responsible for all of the events, marketing and fundraising for the Zoo and works cooperatively with the City in exhibit development, strategic directions and long range planning.

Executive Director Cathi Decker commented, “Our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers are extremely dedicated to the improvements of the Zoo that affect the visitor experience and the animals who live at the Zoo. We are honored to be recognized for what we do every day.”

 

The Zoo is open daily from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Maps and general admission information are available on the Zoo’s website http://www.santaanazoo.org/.
If you would like to become a Member of the Zoo, please call (714) 953-8555 x13.

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