Annual Impact Report 2021-2022

2021/2022 Annual Impact Report

Allen Monroe President/CEO

RoxAnna Breitigan Director of Animal Care

James Danoff-Burg, PhD Director of Conservation

Jan Hawkins Director of Development

Anna Young, PhD Director of Education

Dwight Middendorf Director of Finance

Brian Sawicki Director of Park Design, Maintenance and Gardens Terrie Terrell Director of Human Resources

Chairman: Bill Appel*

Treasurer: Craig McCollam*

Secretary: Sandra Cooper Woodson*

President/CEO & Assistant Secretary: Allen Monroe*

Jon-Marc Blalock*

Deborah Chapman Melinda Drickey Marylynn Gladstein Jim Gould

Patti Grundhofer

Candace Holzgrafe* H. Earl Hoover II

Suz Hunt

Sis Jackson Michael Kiner Jaishri Mehta Jneil Nelson

Peter Scheer

Michael Schreter

Dick Shalhoub

Sally Simonds

Bill Simpkins BJ Skilling

Phillip K. Smith, Jr.*

Roger Snoble

Mary Lou Solomon Larry Spicer

Sam Spinello Nancy L. Stegehuis* Van Tanner*

*Board

PRESIDENT EMERITA

Karen Sausman

TRUSTEE EMERITUS

Curt Ealy

LEGAL COUNSEL

Brian S. Harnik

Roemer + Harnik, LLP

ADVISORY COUNCIL

City of Indian Wells – Mayor Dana Reed

City of Palm Desert – Mayor Jan Harnik and Council Member Sabby Jonathan

City of Rancho Mirage – Council Member Ted Weill

Coachella Valley Water District –Jim Barrett and Anthony Bianco Wayne Connor Associates – Wayne Connor

Greater Palm Springs CVB – Scott White and Davis Meyer

Judy Vossler

Carol Wright

Amur Leopard

A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT/CEO & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

this past year has been one of unparalleled success for The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Attendance has reached an all-time high and has doubled in the last few years. The opening of the new spectacular Rhino Savanna may have something to do with this success. Jaali and Nia, our two black rhinos, have been big hits with our guests. They help us tell the story of why rhino conservation is important and how each of us can play a role in stopping the poaching.

The Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, which we support through our Community Conservation Initiative, was recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a Highly Commended International Ranger Award. The Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching patrol, use unarmed patrolling, socio-economic development efforts, food distribution, and educational outreach to make a difference for their community and the rhinos they protect in the Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa.

This year has seen the return of school field trips as school districts returned to in-person learning. For many area youth, a visit to The Living Desert might be their only opportunity to encounter desert wildlife and to learn about the importance of protecting the plants and animals that call deserts home.

The Living Desert is fortunate to have a first-class team of staff and volunteers who are committed to our mission of desert preservation, education, and appreciation. Each day, they work tirelessly to

Allen Monroe, President/CEO

ensure that we give every guest the Best Day Ever encounter with our animals, gardens, and more. No matter the temperature, the team is out there every day working to make the Park a pleasurable and welcoming experience.

Looking forward, architectural design and engineering is underway for our next Park improvement. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, our new Marketplace/Cafe, including a restaurant with seating for 150 guests, will overlook our famous Bighorn Mountain. A new splash pad for kids—and adults who dare—to cool down on our sultry summer, and sometimes even winter days, will be a big hit. And, our highly anticipated Lion Ridge habitat, welcoming a pride of African lions looking into the Connie and Bob Lurie 500-seat Event Center, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.

We are passionate about two things at The Living Desert: desert animal conservation and environmental education. However, it takes support from the community to help us achieve these goals. Thankfully, you—our friends, supporters, and members here in the Coachella Valley and beyond—have helped us accomplish so much. We appreciate your trust in our organization and look forward to seeing you around the Park.

Thank you for making a difference!

Allen Monroe, President/CEO Bill Appel, Chairman of the Board

a year of growth

DEEPENING CONNECTIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY

By Anna Young, PhD, Director of Education

what a tremendous year of growth for our Education Department, including the addition of almost a completely new team, reinstating some past programs, and introducing new programs! We have a new Director, new Curators in both Education and Volunteer Programs, the addition of three new Education Coordinators, a Volunteer Support Staff member, had two summer interns, over 100 new adult volunteers, and 20 new ZooTeens! This brings us to 12 education staff, more than 400 volunteers and more than 45 ZooTeens.

We held our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner this May for the first time in three years. We recognized service milestones, including five people who have been volunteering for 30 years (Jan Demarbiex, Daphne DeMartino, Lee Miller, Nancy Scott, and Tobe Strother)! We named two Volunteers of the Year (Mike Harris and Marilyn Forrest). We also created and awarded for the first time, a Rookie of the Year (Bernie Hale), for a volunteer who hit the ground running and impactfully contributed to The Living Desert in their first year of service. We’re incredibly proud and thankful for the dedication of our volunteers.

We’ve been updating our Discovery Center display monthly to pair with different animal appreciation days; our World Migratory Bird Day display in May was one of the most popular displays yet! This was great timing, as this summer The Living Desert officially became an AZA SAFE North American Songbird partner.

Volunteer Programs is reviving interpretive cart stations across zoo grounds, so that volunteers can easily access biofacts and other interpretive elements near the habitats and gardens whose stories they

highlight. Over the upcoming season we will be growing our interpretive presence, in alignment with a new Interpretive Plan to message our key priorities: protect deserts, choose sustainable, and advocate for others to do the same.

Education Programs restarted school field trips, welcomed back ZooCamp, and in collaboration with the Conservation team, we’ve brought back the Wildlife on Wheels (WOWs) program. Thanks to the generous donation of Connie and Bob Lurie, we were able to host two weeks of ZooCamp at The Living Desert for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley, and four WOWs at their Indio, Coachella, Mecca, and La Quinta sites.

During ZooCamp, campers from ages 5 to 12 learned about a variety of STEAM topics in our themed sessions, such as Sensing the Desert, Zoo Designers, and Junior Field Conservationist. At WOWs, participants learned about our Time to Talk Trash campaign, and how by covering their trash at home they can help support the desert tortoise.

The Living Desert renovated classroom space in lower McManus, below the reptile house, giving us the ability to host another track of ZooCamp in a muchneeded air-conditioned space!

As we plan for the future, the Education team is reimagining our role within The Living Desert and how our programs can contribute to desert conservation efforts. This upcoming year, we’ll be introducing more family programming and rolling out adult programs, so people of all ages can have a wonderfully wild time while learning how we all can make a difference in our world.

PROMOTING ANIMAL WELL-BEING THROUGH HABITAT DESIGN

By RoxAnna Breitigan, Director of Animal Care

the animal care team is continually evaluating the well-being of the animals in pursuit of the highest quality of care we can provide, which includes the habitats in which they live. Sometimes this involves small changes like replacing the substrate and adding new furniture, which for animals are logs, boulders, and vegetation. Sometimes this means a complete overhaul of an area, and occasionally it’s a completely new vision, like Rhino Savanna. We also challenge ourselves to create homes for species that can live together wherever we can, allowing us to show how we are all connected and tell the story of ecosystems or snippets of life in certain deserts of the world.

Rhino Savanna was years of planning, which finally came to fruition in this multi-species, cutting-edge, four-acre habitat. Typically, in zoos, the critically endangered black rhino live by themselves as they are a mostly solitary species. However, after extensive research, The Living Desert determined

that if we designed this habitat with many options for the animals, other species could live harmoniously with the black rhino. Today, 10 species share this spectacular space including springbok, pelicans, waterbuck, and more.

Rhino Savanna also gave us the opportunity to build new warthog and porcupine homes. This new barn is outfitted with radiant heaters, fans, misters, and two underground dens with built-in camera systems so animal care team can keep a watchful eye over them. We also built a specialized area where guests can observe positive reinforcement training done between the warthogs and the animal care team. The porcupines received some extra-large hollow logs to lounge around in and have settled into their new home nicely.

As one of the first habitats at the Zoo, the Oasis Aviary was showing its age. The animal care team carefully relocated the Aviary’s residents to other

Oasis Aviary Warthog

habitats throughout the Zoo and began to reimagine the future of this space. Through a generous gift from Patricia and Raymond Paige, we were able to build a completely new mesh aviary that would allow us to give homes to multiple species. The gregarious new prairie dogs can be seen munching on native grasses, the elusive burrowing owls are often standing in the shade of their burrows, the barn owl hides amongst the branches in the higher trees, all living along with the roadrunners, vultures and raven that are often active around the habitat. As the bubbling of the stream is heard in the background Wild Prairies is still considered an oasis on Zoo grounds.

African Grasslands has historically been home to several species who coexist well. This year, addra gazelle and yellow-billed storks were added to live with the slenderhorn gazelle, cinereous vultures, and sulcata tortoise. This is another example of the animal care team evaluating our spaces and finding ways to create dynamic habitats for the animals and our guests. These habitats give the animals a multitude of options of who to interact with, how they control the space, and allows them to have a variety of choices that they can make for themselves.

We take the responsibility of these animals’ lives in our care to heart and work every day to be better for them. We are grateful for all the support we receive from the other teams in the Zoo, the generous donors, the inspired guests and each other every day so we can continue to work in this incredible field of animal care and make a positive difference for the deserts of the world.

donor spotlight:

Susan and Jim Gould

In

Our Gould family dedication and support of The Living Desert began over two decades ago when Jim’s parents and our young son, Cole, made their first visit. They fell in love with this unique destination then, but oh how it has evolved. It is a magical place where children and adults are transported to animal kingdoms, with art and whimsy to enjoy on their journey. As a toddler, Cole was entranced with the trains. Committed to The Living Desert’s mission of conservation of endangered species of animals and plants our family’s support of The Living Desert was assured.

We are thrilled to continue our family’s gifting and are proud to help The Living Desert to become the number one attraction in the valley and one of the best zoos in the country. Animals are cared for like family and enjoy authentic, natural habitats.

We have a unique and personal connection to the giraffes at The Living Desert. We can see them from our backyard when they are on the highest point of their habitat. They routinely stand there and gaze our way as if they are happy to see us too. Perhaps that is what inspired us to donate for the privilege of naming the most recent calf who arrived in February. We named her “Baby Cole” after our son who passed away a few years ago. Now we have an even deeper personal connection to The Living Desert. Our support will continue and so will the love we have for this astonishing place.

an interview with Jim and Susan, they shared their story:

Addra Gazelle

conservation: making a difference near and far

By Dr. James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation

at The Living Desert, our conservation fieldwork is global in focus with many local projects as well. Led by our Conservation team, we seek to address the root causes of species decline and not just the symptoms. We repair ecosystems and empower communities so that all can live sustainably and undo human-caused damages to nature.

Many projects involve growing the plants to be outplanted into degraded habitats. For example, one project removes water-hungry invasive trees, which can dry out the creeks where endangered desert pupfish live, while also planting native plants to suppress invasive regrowth. Secondly, we replant native species that have vanished due to irresponsible human activity and climate change to benefit desert tortoises and create what amount to “Tortoise Restaurants.” A third approach involves assessing how well habitats may support reintroducing the Sonoran pronghorn, missing from California for over 80 years. The last approach creates naturalistic habitats in urban areas. We are planting native pollinator gardens and native street trees, benefitting all the nearby native wildlife – and also local human communities. All this biologically-based work directly benefits the entire ecosystem, not just the animal species that we are striving to protect.

Our community-based work focuses on trying to change human behavior to benefit nature. Our Time to Talk Trash campaign encourages people to properly dispose of their trash, as poor organic waste disposal provides food subsidies for ravens, allowing their populations to grow 1,800% greater than normal. Ravens are predators that eat endangered birds,

lizards, and young desert tortoises. Our Gold Star Restaurant program across the north side of Joshua Tree National Park encourages support and patronage for restaurants that actively close their dumpsters and deny extra food to ravens.

We cannot improve what we do not measure. We share our ample conservation social science expertise with our international collaborators to evaluate the success of their community engagement projects. Many of our international partners, including Wild Nature Institute, Painted Dog Research Trust, and the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, have asked us to gauge how successful their behavior change programs have been. This evaluation helps these world-leading conservationists be even more effective.

Furthermore, The Living Desert’s Building Community Conservation Success (BCCS) social science training workshops have significantly changed the way conservation engagement happens. These BCCS workshops train conservation biologists to work with communities to address the human-created root causes of the issues facing wildlife. Despite the challenges of COVID, The Living Desert’s BCCS program has trained 356 people from 29 countries!

Conservation is full of complex problems rooted in human behavior. Saving species requires us all to collaborate to lessen our impact on the world - we all are essential, including staff, volunteers, donors, supporters, and the general public. Thanks for all you do to help us engage people to save species and restore habitats!

OUR GLOBAL CONSERVATION REACH

As desert conservation leaders, we support and participate in world-wide conservation efforts to prevent species extinction from the smallest pupfish to the tallest giraffe. Here at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, we care for over 600 animals, of which 407 are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened species. As a conservation organization, we are committed to our mission of desert conservation. Locally, nationally, and abroad we are involved in 53 projects in 11 countries, partnering with 73 global conservation organizations that support the protection of biological diversity, the creation and restoration of intact ecosystems, and community building and sustainability.

Coachella Valley

Bighorn Sheep Casey’s June Beetle Desert Pupfish Desert Tortoise Desert Willow Smoketree Sonoran Pronghorn Western Pond Turtle

Gulf of California

Mexican Wolf

New Mexico Chad

India Black Rhino ScimitarHorned Oryx

Lion Leopard Kenya

Paraguay Peninsular Pronghorn Vaquita Lowland Tapir

Namibia Cheetah South Africa

Greater Kudu White Rhino Black Rhino

Botswana Cheetah

Black Rhino Cheetah Elephant Grevy’s Zebra Lion

Tanzania

Black Rhino Elephant Giraffe

Zimbabwe African Painted Dog

YOUR INVESTMENT INCREASES OUR ABILITY TO BE GLOBAL CHANGE MAKERS.

DONOR SUPPORT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Bob and Nancy Wagman

Barbara and Glen Ceiley

Larry and Patty Spicer

Larry and Carol Jones

The Zhou Family with Christy Majors

Teresa Miko, Lexi Ward, and Lu Schulz Bill and Suzan Appel

Brooke Koehler

Mary Russel, Bob and Connie Lurie, and Bill Russel

Katelyn Kalter and Sarah Kalter

David Lee, Edie McCarthy, Deborah Chapman, and Tony Robinson

Andy and Marylynn Gladstein

Lance Eldred and Rita Stec

donor spotlight:

Linda Phipps and Elaine Allen

In an interview with Linda and Elaine, they shared their story: There are so many awe-inspiring sights that we enjoy with each visit to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Who could forget the majestic bighorn ram standing proudly at the top of his domain in the last light of day? Or can you imagine observing the underground life of the simple naked mole rat? We know why the camel smiles. lt is gratifying to see the healthy, well-cared-for residents at the Zoo.

Maintaining the health for this large number and variety of animals is amazing. From the tallest, to the smallest, this task is accomplished at the Tennity Wildlife Hospital, which is run by Dr. Goodnight, assisted by her staff and the latest in medical equipment. Within the hospital setting, we have observed delicate budgies handled with great tender care, as well as the careful attention given to many of the other smaller animals and reptiles. Dr. G shared with us videos and stories of specialized healing laser equipment and other treatments done on site for zebras, giraffes, and other large animals in the field. Even the challenge of a new species being brought to the Zoo, such as the new rhino habitat, is met with enthusiasm and approached with new skills. We have seen firsthand the outstanding work that Dr. Goodnight does in maintaining the health of all of the animals and think she is amazing. Our donating to the hospital is in appreciation for the great job she does. We are always excited to see what is being done ... we can’t wait for our next visit.

Superintendant Perez, Jan Hawkins, Bill Appel, Allen Monroe, Mayor Harnik, and Mayor Balocco

Bill Appel, Larry Spicer, and Allen Monroe

Dick Shalhoub and Tracy Smith

Nancy Stegehuis and Dennis Flaig-Moore Steve and Anne Furgal

National Charity League Class of 2023

Stacy Schlinger, Sharon Baltzell, Wendy Cox, Lori Hemighaus, and Donna Ward

LIFETIME GIVING

VISIONARY CIRCLE ($10,000,000+)

Dorothy L. and Max Weber

CORNERSTONE CIRCLE ($5,000,000-$9,999,999)

Jeannik and Edmund Littlefield

Connie L. and Robert A. Lurie Marilyn and Bill Tennity

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ($2,500,000-$4,999,999)

The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation

Stephen B. Chase

Mary and Lawrence A. Cone

Susan E. Cooper

Miriam U. and H. Earl Hoover

Maxine W. Poyas Mary and George Storer

CHAIRMAN CIRCLE

($1,000,000-$2,499,999)

Mary Ann Altomari Living Trust

Sharon and Dean Baltzell

Peggy and Hal Bernthal

Bebe Bowen

Kelly and J. Allen Carmien

City of Indian Wells

City of Palm Desert

Gloria and Vernon B. Clinton

Mildred B. Cosgrove

Mary and Robert H. Flint

Dorothy and James E. Frank

Wayne N. Garwood and Pamela W. Garwood

Patti and Jack Grundhofer

Ethelmae and James E. Haldan

Mary Lou and Leonard Hoeft

The H. Earl Hoover Foundation

RD and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation

Louise and Ray Knowles

Lynn and Edward Little

Herbert R. Mayer and Jeanne C. Mayer Foundation

Edeltraud and Patrick McCarthy / Patrick M. McCarthy Foundation

Marie B. and Vic Regin

Frances L. Rich

BJ and Van Skilling

STEWARD CIRCLE

($500,000-$999,999)

The Annenberg Foundation

Suzan and Bill Appel

Ruth G. Applegarth

Marian Miner Cook

Daphne and Tom DeMartino

Rita Stec and Lance Eldred

William Fries II

Joy and Harry Goldstein

Susan and Jim Gould

Polly and Nelson Hester

Candace and Jon Holzgrafe

James Irvine Foundation

Margaret and Eugene M. Kay

Janet and A. Kirk Lanterman

Harold Matzner

The McCallum Desert Foundation

Diana “Mousie” Powell

Richard Brooke Foundation

Rachel and Richard Sidenberg

Patricia Ann and Terry E. Simmons

Peggy Fouke and James Wortz

Billie F. and E. Eugene Yeager

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE ($250,000-$499,999)

The Ahmanson Foundation Bank of America

Monique M. and John D. Barr

Keleen and Carlton Beal

Dorothy and Philip Boyd

The Brinson Foundation

Joan and Richard Hamilton Kay and Ralph E. Hemingway

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens shows our appreciation to our major donors for their generosity and lifetime of giving.

Dorothy P. and James C. Castle

Tracey and Mike Clark Clark Foundation

Lenore and Harry Clow

Jean Crummer Coburn

The Sirpuhe and John Conte Foundation/ Joyce and Joe Stein, Stephanie and Michael Landes

Deborah L. Cooper

Roy E. Crummer Foundation

William E. de Recat

Joseph Drown Foundation

Lola Edmiston

Elaine Green Eldridge

Myrle and Jack Farley

Judith D. and S. Jerome Tamkin

Connie Faith Thomas

U.S. Bank

Ruth and C.J. Venuto

Vintage Properties

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Jana M. and Frederick Wacker

Elaine and Frank White

Cynthia and James Williams

Robert S. Wilson

John and Martha Wilson Charitable Fund, a donor advised fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Sandra Cooper Woodson James E. Wright Jr.

Herman Foundation / Richard L. Herman

Highland Street Foundation / JoAnn McGrath

Ironwood Country Club

Mary Jane and Paul Jenkins

Elaine B. and Jerrold Jerome

Sandy and George Kachlein III

The Koehler Mahlstedt Family Foundation

Patricia and David Lamb

Drew A. Leander

Michael W. McCarthy Foundation

Susan and Caleb “Mac” McCormick

Kathy and John McGovern

Sandy and Seward Prosser Mellon / R. K. Mellon Family Foundation

Lois M. Milroy

Mary and Ray Mithun / Mithun Family Foundation

Irene Ethel Nelson Revocable Trust

Adele Ruge and V.W. North

The Reserve Club

The Rosso Family Foundation

Stacy Schlinger, CPA

The Scott Family

Lady and Sherman A. Smith Kit and Roger P. Snoble

State of California

Virginia H. Terry

Betty P. Thibodeau

Marilyn and Bruce Throckmorton

Marcy Tonkin

Union Bank, The Private Bank

Carol and Howard Wright

PATRON CIRCLE ($100,000-$249,999)

Ronnie and Byron Allumbaugh

Cyndi Andrews

Katherine J. Andrews Foundation

Anonymous (4)

Argyros Family Foundation

Patricia G. and C. Dennis Ashby

Associated Foundations, Inc.

Anne and Walter Auberger

Susan and James A. Baker III

The Eugenia Mayer Bolz Family Foundation

Wendy and Gary Broad / Gary Broad Foundation

Carole B. and Edmund W. Dumke

Nancy and James L. Burke

Cindy V. and Ely Callaway

Pam C. and Rick G. Carlson

The Carr Foundation, Inc.

Eric Carson

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please notify Development@LivingDesert.org of any omissions or inaccuracies.

Shirley and Jack Farley

Marcia and Robert French / William M. Fuller Foundation

Marylynn and Andy Gladstein

Dorothy B. and Courtney Gould

Irene and Herbert Hansen

Libby and Edward G. Harshfield

Kae A. Hensey

E. Kay and Robert Hillery

Jackie Lee and Jim Houston

Suz Hunt

Institute of Museum and Library Services

Judith Woolsey Isaac

Sis and Keith Jackson

Ursula and Gordy Johnson

Carol and Larry Jones / Larson Jones Family Trust

Mary Lou Kieffer and Vicki Palmer

Joan B. Kroc

Mary Lester / Lester Family Foundation

Donna and Cargill MacMillan Jr.

The Gilbert J. Martin Foundation

Geraldine and Michael Masterpool

Sharon and Craig McCollam

Gayle and John C. McDonald

Marjorie and Loring Merwin

Lee Miller

Sandi and Ralph Miller

Sonia S. Moran

Cherie and John Morris

Jneil Ludwick Nelson

Newman’s Own Foundation / Patty and Arthur Newman

JoAnn and Mark Nickerson

Evelyn R. and Lester Nienhuis

John Outcault

Pat and Ray Paige

Norma Petersen

DeDe and Bill Pitruzzelli

The Muriel Pollia Foundation

Gwen F. Randall

Helen and Harry Reinsch

Susan Roll and Dana Chaiken / The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation

Eileen and Steve Scheel

Sally and Michael Schreter

Hilda Shaw

J. Richard Shelley

Elizabeth B. and Mitchell Simon

Shirley Smith

Nancy S. and Richard A. Spelke

Barbara C. and Stuart K. Spencer

Patty and Larry Spicer

F. M. “Steve” Stevenson

SPONSOR CIRCLE ($50,000-$99,999)

Scarlett N. and William J. Adams

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Kay Horn and L.E. Alford

Irene W. and Guy L. Anderson

Children’s Foundation

Anonymous (2)

Robert Archer and Charles Hilliar

Barbara and Timothy Arnstein

Emily M. Baker

Lu Barnes

Sheila and Ed Benson

Bighorn Development, LLC

Betty and Paul Boshard

Kim and George Brace

Mimi and William Brett

Eleanor and Doug Butler

Karen and Bryan Casier

Janet Schneider-Cate and Tony Cate

Mr. and Mrs. David Chase

Roswitha Smale

Irene Rich Clifford

Confidence Foundation

Carol and Jesse Couch

Glenn A. Cramer

Nancy and Donald de Laski

Edenhurst Gallery

The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation

Jane and John Evans

Rose M. Federico

Christel and Phelps Fisher

Martha Berry and John Fraim

Barbara and Albert Garlinghouse Jr. Ann and Samuel Ginn / The Ginn Family Foundation

Tina and Dennis Godecke

Godecke Clark

Mary Lou Graziadio

Maudella and Harold Green

Rosalind and Stanley Hack

Nan and Reed Harman

Jan and Brian Harnik

Mae and O.J. Harper

Rebecca and David Harrison

Jan and Jim Hawkins

Lynn and Roger L. Headrick

John Herklotz

Patricia and Brian Herman

Jean Ann Hirschi

Barbara and H. Earl Hoover II

The Miriam U. Hoover Foundation

Dolores and Bob Hope

Laura and Amory Houghton

The George and Evelyn Howard Family Trust

Kathy and Bob Jaunich

Tim Jochen and Lee Erwin / Contour Dermatology

Helen and Edwin Johnsen

A.D. Johnston

Elizabeth Fuller Jones

Virginia and P. J. Keeley

Maria and Michael Kiner

Karla Kjellin-Elder and Jeffrey Elder

Sami and Tom H. Lang

Katherine and David Lawrence Michael A. Leppen

Ellis Lewis and Paul Lane

Manilow Fund For Health & Hope

June and Harold Mayer / The Oscar G. & Elsa S. Mayer Foundation

Mary Jo and Al Means

Sharon and Howard Miller

Rena C. Muzzy

Anne and Harry Newman

Carol-Ann and Alan Olson

Warner Otto

Palm Desert Foundation

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

Pepsi Beverage Company

Linda Phipps and Elaine Allen

Phyllis and C. Davis Poehler

Phyllis S. Poehler and Walter E. Stremel Charitable Trust

Tom Pogue and Boris Rose

Carolyn and John Radebaugh

Linda and Manny Rider

Elizabeth Hutchins Riggs

John and Yvonne Royan

Jan Salta

Peter Scheer and Matthias Scheer

Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Richard Shalhoub Family

Marisa and James J. Shea Jr.

Louise Sloneker-Maison

Annette and D. William Smith

Becky and Phillip Smith Jr.

Faye Moore Snelling

Gillian and Wilbur F. Snelling

SoCal Edison

Mary Lou and Dick Solomon

Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

Amber and Sam Spinello

Karen and Nick Steffanoff

Anne Sutherland-DeRosa / Ettore Richard DeRosa, Jr. Foundation

Joy Svenson

Bette and Jack Swain

Marianne Armanino and Harry Timmins

Arthur Underwood

Lois and John Veneri

Mary and Gordon Watson

Linda Jo and Allan Bankus Jr.

Frank Wiskowski

As of June 30, 2022

HERITAGE SOCIETY MEMBERS

The Heritage Society recognizes those donors who have made arrangements for deferred gifts in their estate: a bequest in a will, a charitable remainder trust, a life insurance policy with The Living Desert named as the beneficiary, real estate property, appreciated stock, and more. Members of the Heritage Society are a unique group of people who share the same vision as Karen Sausman, President Emerita, and the original Board of Trustees. Heritage Society members understand the need to provide for the sustainable future of The Living Desert and the incredible and often endangered plants and animals found in the world’s deserts.

Gerald and Wendy Anderson Anonymous

Bill and Suzan Appel

Phyllis Ardary

Dr. C. Dennis and Dr. Patricia G. Ashby William and Mary Baker

Michael Baran and Rai Scime

Monique and John Barr

Robert G. Berg, Jr. Kerry Berman

Peggy and Hal Bernthal

Estate of Kelly Carmien

Karen E. Casier

Joan and Jim Chedester

John and Margaret Cleveland

Estate of Mary O. and Lawrence A. Cone Carol and Jesse Couch

Barbara R. Dadanian

Ernest and Jan Demarbiex

Daphne K. DeMartino

Linda Dempster

June Johnson Dickson

Jim and Cindy Eshleman

Judy Fogt

George and Elaine Foster Marilyn Hahn

Jeffrey T. Hall

Estate of Joan E. Hamilton James P. and Linda L. Hamm

Estate of Irene and Herbert Hansen

Estate of Jean Ann Hirschi

Candace Clark Holzgrafe

Melinda Joyce Nahin-Iuster

Lois Henning Kahn-Feuer

Linda Karas

Marisa Y. Katnic’

Ronald E. Iehl

Kirstin Lane

Drew A. Leander

Barbara and Paul Lenburg

Nancy and Bud Lenzer

Betty Callies and Bonny Light

Patricia A. Lyon

Jaci and David Mach

Sharon L. Mattern

Kenneth F. Maxwell and Richard L. Redman

Charles and Candace McBrayer

Vicki McConnell

Barbara J. Merrill

Joseph Migliore

Lee Miller

Sharon and Howard Miller

Fera Mostow

Jneil Ludwick Nelson

Sandra Norman

Dr. David E. and Marge Perkins

Dale A. Perry

Richard and Georgina Polizzi

Kerstin B. Pollack

Joseph A. Rangus

Connie Rickords

Susan R. Rogowski

Sandy Rosenberg and Don Thompson

Marcus F. Rosenstein

Lynne L. Rudnick

Marjorie B. Salter

Karen Sausman

Estate of Mary Patricia Schneller

Angelo and Sheryl Sciacca

Barbara L. and Richard F. Shapiro

Bill and Pamela Simpkins

Brian and Jean Slavin

Lady Smith

Sandra Smith

Mary Lou and Dick Solomon

Barbara Storms and Sarah Gonzales

Carla Sullivan-Dilley

Kelly Taylor

William S. Tetsch

J. Bruce Tominello and Larry E. Kirchner

Sarah S. and John P. Tyler

Raymond and Elizabeth Welch

Catherine Hayes and Mark Wiesel

Cynthia K. Williams

John and Martha Wilson Charitable Fund, a donor advised fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

Rita D. Wood

Sandra Cooper Woodson

Billie F. Yeager

Coyote

2021-2022 ROLL OF DONORS

Bill O’Donnell and Rick Farris

OVER $1,000,000

Estate of Mary and Lawrence A. Cone

Estate of Kelly Carmien Connie and Bob Lurie

$500,000 - $999,999

Herbert R. Mayer and Jeanne C. Mayer Foundation

Rita Stec and Lance Eldred

$250,000 - $499,999

Sharon and Dean Baltzell

Patti Grundhofer

Estate of Joan and Richard Hamilton Marcy Tonkin

$100,000 - $249,999

Suzan and Bill Appel

The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation

The Carr Foundation, Inc.

City of Indian Wells

Estate of Lola Edmiston

Susan and Jim Gould

Estate of Irene and Herbert Hansen

Sandy and George Kachlein

Pat and Dave Lamb

Harold Matzner and Shellie Reade

Edie McCarthy / Patrick M. McCarthy Foundation

Eileen and Steve Scheel

Stacy Schlinger, CPA Estate of Connie Thomas

$50,000 - $99,999

Anonymous Bank of America Corporation

Tracey and Mike Clark

Susan Cooper

Estate of Jean Ann Hirschi

Candi and Jon Holzgrafe

Ursula Johnson

JoAnn McGrath / Highland Street Foundation

Mary Jo and Al Means

Susan Roll and Dana Chaiken / The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation

Cynthia and James Williams

John and Martha Wilson

Charitable Fund, a donor advised fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

$25,000 - $49,999

Argyros Family Foundation

Barbara Arnstein

Clark Foundation

Karen and Mike Consbruck

Diane and Norman Delaterre

Mary Lou Graziadio

The Miriam U. Hoover Foundation

Karla Kjellin-Elder and Jeffrey Elder

Mary Lester / Lester Family Foundation

Ellis Lewis and Paul Lane

Sharon and Craig McCollam

Marcia and Max Messmer

Jneil Ludwick Nelson

Karen and Robert Rishwain

Yvonne Royan

Sally and Michael Schreter

Nancy Scott

Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

Stephen Stack Nick Steffanoff

$10,000 - $24,999

Scarlett and Bill Adams

Karen Alton

Judy and Roger Anderson

Anonymous

Bob Archer and Chuck Hilliar

Suvina Mah and Peter Armstrong

BIGHORN Golf Club Charities

The Brinson Foundation

Wendy and Gary Broad / Gary Broad Foundation

California Community Foundation Dottie Castle

Lynne and John Deal

John & Elizabeth Endicott Foundation

Suzanne and David Etheridge

Anne Gittinger

Marylynn and Andy Gladstein

Taylor Jaeger and Tom Gleitsman

Alexandra Glickman and Gayle Whittemore

Karen and Robert Gober

Linda and Michael Goodrick

Maudella and Harold Green

Kristyn and Isaiah Hagerman

Nan and Reed Harman

Susie and Wayne Harvey

Jan and Jim Hawkins

Kay Hillery

Suz Hunt

David Kowalczyk and Curtis Johnson

D.W. Johnston Construction, Inc.

Norma Jones and Jim Strode

Paige Kiner

The Koehler Mahlstedt Family Foundation

Julie Williams and Marshal Kushniruk

Drew Leander

Jacquelyn Lester

Pat Lyon

Manilow Fund For Health & Hope

The Gilbert J. Martin Foundation

Sandy and Seward Prosser Mellon / R. K. Mellon Family Foundation

Karen Miles

Lee Miller

Mildred Moore-Voll and Dick Voll

Anne Christensen and Arne Ness

JoAnn and Mark Nickerson

Sally Nordstrom

Estate of Adele Ruge North

Carol-Ann and Alan Olson

Tom Patrick and Steve Rulo

Carol Pearson

Pepsi Beverage Company

Linda Phipps and Elaine Allen

DeDe and Bill Pitruzzelli

Jebby and Thomas Potter

Peggy and Peter Preuss

Wayne L. Prim Foundation

PVG Architects

14We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please notify Development@LivingDesert.org of any omissions or inaccuracies.

The Rockwell Foundation

Lori and Scott Sale

Jan Salta

Judy Sanders

Schilnger Chrisman Foundation

Lynn Parazak and Cliff Schneider

Estate of Mary Schneller

John Schumacher and Joseph Rodriguez

Richard Shalhoub Family

Mary Sue and Mike Shannon

Maureen Shapiro and Ben Rosenthal

Shirley Smith

Theresa and Roger Snoble SoCal Edison

Mary Lou and Dick Solomon Patty and Larry Spicer

The Desert Sun Visit Greater Palm Springs Mary and Gordon Watson Carol Weston

$5,000 - $9,999

AbbVie Inc

Eric Affeldt

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Anonymous

Karen Dennis and Miles Auslander

Patricia Bechtholdt and Jenna Bechtholdt

Benefits Exchange Alliance

Joyce and William Biffar

Chris and John Blair Blank Park Zoo Foundation Karlyn and Charles Boppell

Kim Brace

Diana and Dennis Brandt

Cindy V. Callaway Foundation

Shelley Gordon and Thomas Camp Cecil B. DeMille Foundation

Barbara and Glen Ceiley

Deborah Chapman

Geri and Walter Clark

Cynthia Claytor

Pat Clinton Bill and Cathy Dickson Steve Duffy

Phyllis and Wayne Duncan Terry and Wally Durham Jackie and Curt Ealy Dallas Ann and Rick Erwood Rose and Jimmy Fisher Liz Fortner

Anne and Steve Furgal Helene Galen and Jamie Kabler Jeannie Gilbert and Janice Campbell

Judie Helms

Suzy and Marc Homme

Barbara and H. Earl Hoover II Jill and Dale Hurd

Debbie and Art Jacobson

James Stuart III Family Foundation

Tim Jochen and Lee Erwin / Contour Dermatology

Christine and Al Johnsen Honey and Peter Johnson Trudy and David Johnston

Squire Junger

Maria and Michael Kiner Jahanna and Tom Knight Nancy Knowlton

Jodi Korn Radoff and Robert Radoff

Art Laboe Foundation

Kathryn and William Lane

The Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation

Mary Ellen Livingston

John Ludwig

Tiffani and Joseph Magri

Lori and Bruce Mecham

Jaishri and Raj Mehta

Judith Metz

Joanne and Myron Mintz

Jack Moore

Dennis Murphy

Sandy Myerson and Michael Gailus

Esther Overtoom and Chris Prill

Nancy and Iain Parsons

Carol Pavlick

David Pollart

Mrs. Randall Presley

Michael Provenzano

Tina and Joe Pyne

Raising Cane’s Restaurants LLC

Maureen and Phil Ramer

Maureen and Bob Renner

Susan Richards

Linda and Manny Rider

Anne Roberson

Lynne Rudnick

Mary Ann Sage

Peter Scheer and Matthias Scheer

Laura Seyfarth

Sally Simonds

Pam and Bill Simpkins

Nancy and Malcolm Slack

Roswitha Smale / Christopher Smale Foundation

Becky and Phil Smith Jr.

Nancy and Joel Solomon

Joan and Charles Spainhour

Amber and Sam Spinello

Carole and Del Stagg

Nancy and Jon Stegehuis

Jane Stevens

Barbara and James Stuart Sherry Chak and Sontung Tang

Kathleen and Edward Thomas

Gloria Tipton

John Todd

Richard and Jocelyn Vortmann Foundation

Molly Walters

The A.C. and Shaughne S. Warnack Foundation

Whitewater Rock and Supply Co.

Patty and Paul Wondries

Deborah and Paul Woodcock

$2,500 - $4,999

Nita Adamson and Leslie Jenkin

Chuck Aldrich

Alliance Data

Kristi and Brian Bailey

Rai Scime and Michael Baran

Lark and Mark Barnum

Christine Burdick-Bell and Michael Bell

Mark Benvenga

Alanna and Jon-Marc Blalock

Carrie and Rich Breeswine

Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock

Vicky Burgess

Burgstahler Foundation

Patricia and John Campbell Susan Carney

Lee and Jay Clancey

Wendy and Kevin Cox

Leigh Cross - Combs

Roy E. Crummer Foundation

Holiday Dapper and Jeb Bailey

Donald Davis

Diane and Neal Denkler

Rondi Edwards

El Paseo Jewelers

Lisa Brenner and Lee Elster

Roni Eventov

Angela Farmer and Rose Marcario

Christel and Phelps Fisher

Larry Fry and Jeff Garatea

Debra Garcia

Susan and Warren Gelman

Lile abd John Gibbons

Tracy and Steve Hanson

Kristine Harris and David Rosner

Amy and Garith Helm

Lynn and Alan Hendershot

The Brian and Patricia A. Herman Fund at Community Foundation

Santa Cruz County

Raila and Dennis Horne

Lorna and Robert Houck

Nicki and John Conti

Maren and Adam Jaffe

Eric Jordan

Suzanne and Tom Kanarian Tanya Karn

Connie and Dennis Keller Jeanette Kleist

Patricia Landye

Barbara and Tom Latour

Susan and George LeBlanc

Dave Lippert

Maureen Londy

Richard Longmire

Maggie McBennett and Chris Reed

Fay McClung

Susan and Nick McCully

Barbie McMahan

Dorothy Milauskas

Fern Miller

Diane and Mike Morrison

Julie and Robert Nagelhout Daryl and Steven Nelson

Betty Nelson-Lahti and Gordon Lahti Sandy and Harvey Platt

Suzanne Pluskat

Cathryn Rasmuson

Judy Rasmuson

Michele and Steve Ray

Tia Sommer and Craig Rexroad

Warren Riley and Steve Uribe

Adele Ruxton

Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens

Ronald Sassano

Sharon Schermer and Rob McCauley

Terry and Bill Schmidt

Carrie and Nick Schrup

Lu Schulz

Linda and Bill Scott

BJ Skilling

Christine and Chris Smith

Cathy and Warren Smith

Barbara and Stuart Spencer

Tiki and Larry Spitcaufsky

Sherry and Mitchell Stein

Jennifer and Mathew Stephen Wendy and Ted Storlie

Ace Strong

Carla Sullivan-Dilley and Ron Dilley Robert Taubman

Vickie and Tom Trenkmann

Sheila and Rick Vitelle

Judy Vossler

Donna and Robert Ward Carol and Roy Whitfield

Carol and Mike Williamson

Estate of Leonard Wolk

FINANCIALS FOR FISCAL YEAR

$9,045,840 $3,426,237 $2,867,430 $2,847,173 $2,774,789 $127,330 $65,996 $84,745 $21,239,541 $15,515,294 $1,472,586 $645,086 $17,632,966

Your gift makes

For more than five decades, The Living Desert has championed the well-being of desert flora and fauna through the generous support of our patrons and donors. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that does not receive ongoing municipal tax support, we are an institution funded almost entirely by visitors, members, and generous individual donors. Your financial contribution

places we love.

supports the daily operations of the Zoo and Gardens and our ability to provide exceptional attention to the animals in our care. Your donation also contributes to the larger global efforts of The Living Desert’s conservation outreach including field work, public engagement, and youth education that help save our beloved desert animals and plants from extinction.

STANDING ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE FIGHT TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND DESERT ENVIRONMENTS, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN IN OUR EFFORTS BY MAKING A ONE-TIME GIFT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

a world of difference to the animals under our care and the wild