“How much money do you need?” is the question everyone asks.  Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo’s Board of Directors have passed a resolution to raise the final $300,000.00 by November 1, 2011.  To date over $661,000.00 has been raised and we are eagerly awaiting the remaining funds needed to meet the architects estimated construction expenses.  Once this updated goal has been met, we can put Cat Canyon out for bid to building contractors.

Many of our passionate “friends” want to know why Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo needs more than the original goal of $600,000.00.  The original estimate was based upon a conceptual drawing rather than a detailed plan that would allow the architectural team at WDM to arrive at a more exact number.  “The exhibit plan has evolved over the past four years.  A few components left out of the original cost estimate have been added to the final budget as plans have solidified, and the cost of certain materials like steel and concrete have increased significantly” said Kathy Sexson, Director for Lee Richardson Zoo.  The national economic landscape also impacted expenses, as well as opportunities to receive grants beyond our nearest neighbors, according to Mary Palmer, Executive Director for Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo.

The Board of Directors for Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo is committed to raising the final  funds in the next 15 months without making significant cuts or changes to the conceptual plan.  “We just feel like this is too important an exhibit for Lee Richardson Zoo to shoot for anything less than the full amount of money” Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo Board Member Karrisa McCarty explained.  “We knew that we could cut this and do without that, but it just didn’t seem fair to our current donors and the people who come to Lee Richardson Zoo.  We want this to be an amazing experience for the people as well as the cats” she concluded.

So how will we do it you may ask?  “With lots of planning and a very open accounting to the people who care the most about the zoo, our donors” said Palmer.  “Boo! at the Zoo is just around the corner on October 16^th and that will contribute an estimated $30,000.00 to the kitty, but it will obviously take more than one event to get us to the goal.  We are planning a special end of year event for our major donors as well as several easy ways for anyone to help.”  Palmer continued, “We will bring back the Coins for Cats donation tank and move it throughout the zoo and to other locations in town.  We also have a fun program called Lend A Paw where anyone can donate $5 and receive a paw to color or just write their name on.  Those paws will be displayed in the Safari Shoppe.”  Grants and donations will continue to be an important component of the fundraising, and FOLRZ is working on a number of grant opportunities from potential sponsors. 

To find out more about what you can do to help us build a great new exhibit for these beautiful cats, call 620-276-6243 or stop by the Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo office located just inside the zoo gates by the Safari Shoppe.