Dear Zoobilee Guests,

Welcome to one of our favorite evenings of the year Zoobilee! Feast with the Beasts is back, and we have a fun evening planned for you. Starting at the main entrance you probably noticed some changes, and a large dinosaur! Strolling through the Zoo under a lush canopy of green, sampling delicious food and drink, perhaps encountering an animal or two – and meeting up to chat with friends and listen to music – we think it is a grand way to kick off the summer. As a guest tonight you will also have the opportunity to explore Dinosaurs Among Us along the nature trail.

Did you know that Roger Williams Park Zoo was recently named one of the top 20 zoos in the country by U.S. News & World Report? According to the publication, “... while not all zoos are created equal, the editors at U.S. News used an extensive research process to create this list of the top zoos in the country. All the destinations receive favorable traveler reviews on multiple websites, are accredited by AZA – an organization focused on the well-being and care of animals – and have been evaluated by experienced veterinarians and animal care specialists.”

The Zoo is a treasure not just for the local Rhode Islanders but has become a destination for many visitors throughout New England. Your support tonight is critical to our success, the accolades and work being accomplished are thanks to supporters like you.

We are so thankful to the restaurants, caterers and beverage purveyors who support Roger Williams Park Zoo by donating their service and their wonderful food and drink. You get to enjoy a great party, too, and it all combines to advance the Zoo’s mission to conserve wildlife and wild places. You might already be aware that we support projects and programs that protect giraffes in Kenya, frogs in Chile, fish in Peru, tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea in addition to protecting native New England species right here in Rhode Island. What you might not know is that YOU are helping make that happen right now by joining us for Zoobilee.

Bank RI is our presenting sponsor again this year, along with a number of corporate sponsors, and I hope you will join us in recognizing their support. It is a genuine privilege to work in a community that so highly prioritizes its zoo as an educational and recreational institution along with being an advocate for wildlife. We humbly thank our sponsors and hope you will do the same when you have an opportunity.

Finally, it is a pleasure to give a shout-out to our event Chair, Pamela Heffernan and the Zoobilee Event Committee for their energy, creativity, and perseverance. Their hard work combined with that of the RWP Zoo staff team have outdone themselves again to produce this festive gathering for an important purpose.

Cheers!

Stacey Johnson Rhode Island Zoological Society, Executive Director

Greetings Zoobilee Guests,

Tonight’s event marks the official kickoff to summer, and we are thrilled that you are celebrating Zoobilee! Feast with the Beasts with us this year!

This event showcases and celebrates our loyal supporters, community partners, and our wonderful staff. The evening helps us shine a light on our beautiful Zoo grounds, and the animals that we are proud to care for and nurture.

As you enjoy the local food and beverages, dance, and catch up with friends and colleagues, don’t forget to look around. Walk along the Zoo trails and see the life size dinosaur exhibit on the nature trail; look up in awe at the new giraffe shade structure; and check out the area being prepped for the state-of-the-art Education pavilion; all these amazing upgrades and changes are happening now, with more to come in 2024.

Your support tonight is critical to our continued success. Admissions tickets do not cover all the costs to maintain our grounds though. We also rely on all our events and generous donors like you to help care for our diverse animal population and habitats that meet and exceed the requirements of modern-day zoos.

I hope you enjoy all the delicious food and beverages provided tonight by the finest restaurants and caterers in the area. And, there’s still time to bid on our online auction, there are wonderful items to bid on including unique Zoo experiences, weekend getaways, and sporting events.

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to our presenting sponsor, Bank RI, as well as my fellow Zoobilee committee members, the Zoological Society Board of Trustees and all the companies, organizations, and individuals who have generously contributed to Zoobilee. And special thanks to the participating restaurants, Zoo staff and volunteers who commit their time and hard work to make the evening a fun and safe experience for everyone.

And thank you to all of you for your continued support; we are Zoo-per grateful!

Enjoy the evening!

Pam Heffernan

Pam Heffernan

Chair, Zoobilee 2023 Event Committee

Rhode Island Zoological Society Board of Trustee