COMO FRIENDS

Results: Created by volunteers and boosters, community donors and docents, Como Friends is the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, preserving and enhancing Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Since forming in 1999, Como Friends has reinvested more than $30 million in programs and projects at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory that have helped to make this free-admission treasure Minnesota’s most visited cultural destination. Contributions support three initiatives: •Visionary capital improvements such as the Visitor Center, Tropical Encounters, Polar Bear Odyssey and the upcoming Japanese Garden Experience. •Annual investments in programs and improvements to benefit animals, gardens and visitors. Recent gifts have made possible a renovated Sparky Amphitheater, expanded education programs that now reach nearly a half million visitors each year, new gardens in front of the Visitor Center, and a new face-lift for the Primate Building for the newly opened Gorilla Forest exhibit. •Creation and growth of endowment funds to support garden and animal habitat improvements and education initiatives, transforming Como’s future for the 21st century. Funds have grown from $12,000 to $5.6 million.

Programs: Como friends raises funds to invest in programs and improvements at como park zoo and conservatory. Areas of priority include supporting and expanding education programs, funding animal exhibit improvements and best practices in animal care, and making possible expanded gardens and horticulture excellence.

the organization operates a gift shop that sells merchandise related to the animal and plant collections at como park zoo and conservatory with proceeds funding investments in programs and improvements at the facility.

como friends conducted a capital campaign to fund the construction of a new polar bear habitat and a new wing to the marjorie mcneely conservatory for its bonsai collection and japanese garden.