On the heels of a whirlwind holiday season, the Zoo is quieter – for now. Behind the scenes, we are enjoying the opportunity to organize and energize for the massive year ahead.
Thanks to everyone who joined us at The RainForest Rendezvous in September; it was great to fill the space with friends, share fond memories, and toast to the future before Primate Forest broke ground the following day. If you have visited the Zoo since then, you have seen the dramatic demolition of the building. It is a stunning, visible reminder that the Zoo is being transformed – with all of your support!
While it is bittersweet to see The RainForest closed, there is so much to come. This space will truly revolutionize the Zoo experience and create a destination unlike any other in North America – for the community and
Leaders from the Zoo Society, Zoo, Metroparks, CrossCountry Mortgage and Higley Construction break ground on Primate Forest Sept. 12, 2024.
Christine Myeroff Board Chair cmyeroff@gmail.com
330-730-0447
A
NOTE FROM THE CHAIR
What a year! It is with gratitude for our donors and supporters that the Cleveland Zoo Society (CZS) had a fantastic year! 2024 was filled with successes, including one of the highest dollar amounts raised in CZS history, membership serving over 43,000 families, more than 1.3 million visitors, fun parties, a groundbreaking and many, many Zoo tours.
It’s starting! The groundbreaking for phase one of Primate Forest was held in September. In celebration, the Rainforest Rendezvous was well attended and provided guests with the opportunity to enjoy the Rainforest, reminisce on past visits and celebrate the exciting future of Primate Forest. It was a festive event followed by the groundbreaking the next morning. Here we go!
A special thank you goes out to our friends at CrossCountry Mortgage for their generous lead sponsorship and all of our donors who have already made a commitment to this transformational project.
The CZS Board is primed and excited to continue on our path to success in fundraising in 2025, as we have welcomed six new board members who come to the organization with enthusiasm, passion and great talents. We have created new committees, including Government Advocacy, Marketing and a new Primate Forest Leadership Committee. Our Board is 100% in and confident that we will continue to raise the funds needed to complete this new space.
But we still need all of you. There is more work to be done to create the world’s best gorilla habitat and visitor experience! We are here for you and your friends. Come out and see the progress being made, take a golf cart tour to see our three gorilla babies wrestling and chasing each other, enjoy a stroll to see our new Andean bear and join us in learning about our conservation and education efforts. There is so much to do and see!
Thank you for continuing support!
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tourists alike. ETFE roofing that allows UV light to pass through will make it a health-boosting way to spend a few hours during gray Cleveland winters, and the Zoo’s first indoor playscape will give kids a place to exercise and explore year-round. Not to mention, the vanguard design of the animal habitats will afford guests entirely new ways to observe gorillas, orangutans, and many other beloved species.
As the attention and excitement around Primate Forest propels our team toward the next phase of fundraising, we are so grateful for your early support. To date we have raised $20.2 million in philanthropic funding for Primate Forest — and we are thrilled! While we have much more to raise, we are reflecting on this success and celebrating in the new year. And we are already planning for a busy
2025 with more tours, events, videos and communications that will inspire and educate our donors and friends. We remain dedicated to bolstering the Zoo’s cutting-edge vision for the space with philanthropic funding and joyful advocacy.
Thank you for your generosity and friendship. I look forward to seeing you soon!
EVENTS
RainForest Rendezvous | September
9, 2024
The night before the official groundbreaking, the Zoo Society hosted a donor event to help close down The RainForest after more than 30 years of being a premiere Zoo destination.
“Primate Forest will be a vibrant and inclusive community asset that elevates the oftengroundbreaking zoological work taking place right here in Cleveland. It will be one of the most notable tourist destinations for our region and once open, free and accessible to Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township residents as part of Free Monday.”
— BRIAN ZIMMERMAN CEO, Cleveland Metroparks
CZS Board Member Muffy Boland with her husband Jim
Zoo Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar (left) with donors and friends
CZS Emeriti Bob Reitman with his wife Sylvia
CZS CEO Sarah Crupi addressing patrons at RainForest Rendezvous
Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman speaking at the event
CZS Chair Christine Myeroff and her husband Randy
Fran and Jules Belkin
Jill and Ken Marous
Guests at the gharial habitat
OneHealth: A Brighter Future for Animals, People, and the Environment
Emily Baber, Communications Specialist
The interconnectedness of people, animals, and environment is truly astounding to consider; this intricate tapestry of relationships means that human populations, animal populations, and the environment all depend upon
one another to thrive. The term “OneHealth" describes this connection. More than a buzzword, OneHealth is a call to action – and the lens through which Cleveland Metroparks Zoo makes decisions.
Animal care, wildlife conservation, education, daily operations, capital projects, future planning – it all comes back to this one thing. As a leader among Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions and
the most visited destination in Northeast Ohio, the Zoo has a responsibility to make choices that support healthy animals both in human care and in its surrounding environment; to uplift and empower its community; and to protect threatened wildlife around the world.
Endlessly complex and often defined by tough decisions, the OneHealth approach is not the easy route - but it is central to the Zoo’s mission, and Zoo Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar is all-in for the challenge.
“There is no type of organization better prepared to talk about how plants and animals and people thrive moving forward than zoos, and our Zoo is prepared to do this,” he said. “Plants, animals, people – we are experts in these categories, working together and innovating and trying new things and having a conversation that’s about more than just wildlife. Wildlife is still important to us, but it’s more than that.”
COMMITTED TO ITS COMMUNITY
The Zoo is, in itself, a positive contributor to the health of its community. It provides Northeast Ohioans with an accessible place to enjoy nature and reap its benefits, and supports a healthy habitat for local flora and fauna. The recent addition of a dedicated pollinator garden is symbolic of how the Zoo serves as a steward for the land it occupies, but pollinator-friendly plants are
An animal keeper preparing greens for the gorilla habitat. The gorillas eat a plant-friendly diet that has been proven to lower the risk of heart disease.
not contained to this one plot.
“We’re really doing that around the whole Zoo – we're just doing it quietly,” Zoo Horticulture and Grounds Manager Leigh Anne Lomax said.
She continued, “(The OneHealth concept) is informing the decisions I make about our landscape, even at the smallest scale. When I’m out choosing plants, I have this mental checklist: Is it native? Is it pollinator friendly? Is it browsefriendly? Is it toxic?” Lomax’s team has the monumental responsibility of creating and caring for an environment that supports healthy animals at the Zoo, healthy habitat for local wildlife such as birds and insects, and a healthy place for Zoo visitors.
It doesn’t end there.
Sustainability efforts such as food composting, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting are part of the Zoo’s everyday commitment to a
healthier planet. Plans for facility improvements and new construction are made through the OneHealth lens, and Primate Forest will embody this concept from top to bottom with its cutting-edge roofing material, full-size trees and plants, naturalistic animal habitats, and opportunities for visitors to experience their connection with the world around them in new ways.
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“There is no type of organization better prepared to talk about how plants and animals and people thrive moving forward than zoos, and our Zoo is prepared to do this.”
-DR. CHRIS KUHAR Zoo Executive Director
THE VALUE OF FORESTS
For 32 years, The RainForest was a beloved adventure for Zoo visitors and an unmatched respite from Northeast Ohio wintertime blues. Primate Forest will build upon this resource, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a living, breathing forest, no matter the season. With ETFE roofing that transmits UV light, the 25,000 square-foot gorilla habitat can host fullsize trees and a variety of other plants year-round. Primate Forest will also house the Zoo’s first indoor playscape, where kids can exercise and burn some energy regardless of the weather.
The value of trees as contributors to human health is an increasingly popular topic with compelling research behind it, and this indoor, climate-controlled forest will make it possible for more
people to access the benefits of trees throughout the year. Not only does this space represent a tremendous addition to the Zoo’s appeal as a tourist destination, making a “forest” experience accessible to all in Northeast Ohio is an opportunity for the Zoo to support the health of its community in a new way.
“We strive to connect visitors to the human benefits that come from being in nature,” Zoo Director of Education and Engagement Katie Corr said. “Everything from lowering blood pressure to increasing serotonin and endorphins, to clarity of thought – all of these seem to sharpen through even a short exposure to nature. We want to allow guests to feel this even at times of year they may not be getting outside much.”
A tranquil theater space will display breathtaking video
of forests around the world, immersing guests in the sights and sounds of healthy forest ecosystems and encouraging them to take note of the calming effect they feel as a result of the experience. An interactive touchscreen activity will match them with a conservation leader who aligns with their interests and personality. These responsive design elements aim to show – not tell – the concept of OneHealth, and represent a groundbreaking new approach to engaging visitors that will leave them with a greater sense of themselves and their place in the world.
CONNECTIONS IN HEALTH
Outstanding animal care is central to the Zoo’s mission, and visitors to Primate Forest will get to see it in action –and form some connections
A tranquil theater space will immerse guests in the sights and sounds of healthy forest ecosystems and encourage them to note the calming effects of the experience.
Primate Forest will also house the Zoo’s first indoor playscape, where kids can exercise and burn some energy regardless of the weather.
between health factors in great apes and themselves. In “health management hubs” that gorillas and orangutans enter voluntarily, animal care experts will conduct positive reinforcement training that encourages the animals to voluntarily participate in cardiac ultrasounds, blood draws, EKGs, nebulizer treatments, and more. The net outcome is more frequent monitoring, robust health data for the animals at the Zoo and the population in AZA zoos at large, and the ability to detect and address health concerns earlier.
Allowing visitors to observe some of these practices also serves the Zoo’s goal to connect people with wildlife. Zoo Epidemiologist Dr. Pam Dennis reflected on the potential impact of this: “I think about how zoos can communicate how we as humans fit into all this. Whether relating to a healthy diet you hear about in gorillas or cheetahs, maybe a little of that sinks in and makes you think about your own health. Not only does that help you, but it connects you with that animal.”
There are numerous parallels between great ape health and human health, and the two are understood more deeply through the OneHealth lens. Inviting guests to experience these connections and find inspiration in them, Primate Forest will center its visitors in their place in the world – and embolden them to help make it a better place.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been a thought leader among zoos for years, driving consequential research and
raising the bar in animal care, science education, and guest experience. With Primate Forest, the Zoo steps into a new era, occupying the role it is uniquely equipped to play in shaping a healthy future for its community, both in Northeast Ohio and around the world.
VR image of the indoor playscape, sponsored by PNC.
Making a “forest” experience accessible to all in Northeast Ohio is an opportunity for the Zoo to support the health of its community in a new way.
GROUNDBREAKING
Primate Forest Groundbreaking | September 10, 2024
Cleveland Metroparks hosted a morning celebration for supporters and local officials to unveil final design plans for Primate Forest and break ground on the construction.
Speakers included (L to R) Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar, Cleveland Metroparks Commissioner Bruce G. Rinker, and Cleveland Metroparks Chief Executive Officer Brian Zimmerman.
(L to R) CZS Chair Christine Myeroff, CZS Director of Advancement Andrea Ponikvar, CZS CEO Sarah Crupi, Zoo Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar, CZS Director of Capital Campaigns Nicole Stracensky, and CZS Director of Marketing Rachael Fuller at the Primate Forest Groundbreaking.
Guests getting a sneak peak at Primate Forest plans.
PROJECT UPDATE
Construction is well underway
Construction on Primate Forest began in October. This included demolition of the exterior of the building and surrounding landscape, adding a construction fence, and creating a flood control wall. Stay tuned for more construction updates!
February 10, 2025
February 10, 2025
SCAN QR CODE TO VIEW VIDEOS OF CHRIS KUHAR’S CONSTRUCTION UPDATES.
December 11, 2024
December 17, 2024
December 13, 2024 February 10, 2025
DONOR PROFILE
THOMAS N. TYRRELL Member, CZS Board of Directors Managing Partner, CollaboRX
Tom is a serial entrepreneur and social philanthropist who has founded or co-founded four for-profit and three non-profit organizations and maintained a broad regional presence, participating on over 25 non-profit boards. Now on his second board stint with the Zoo Society, his commitment to and love of nature and animals, as well as providing opportunities for underserved youth populations to experience them regularly, have been his driving force for the past 15 years. Tom’s wife, Diane, a 45-year critical care nurse, is a significant advocate of the Zoo; his son, a veterinarian, did his internship at the Zoo; and his two teacher daughters are both Zoo members.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL TO VISIT AT THE ZOO?
The tigers because they’re an apex predator. They don’t make a move that isn’t carefully planned - there’s a reason and a purpose in everything that they do. They are incredibly intelligent animals, and just a marvel.
WHAT DREW YOU TO THE ZOO AS A LONGTIME BOARD MEMBER AND SUPPORTER?
I’ve always been a zoo nut. I grew up about three miles from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, and as kids we would sneak in under the fence. As an adult, wherever I traveled throughout the world I would always visit the zoo, and every time we took a family vacation we’d go to the zoo on a rainy day because the animals were out and the people weren’t, so you could see a lot.
My professional life is centered around what I call the three E’s: education, environment and economic development, and everything that I’ve done falls into one or more of those categories. Joining the Zoo Society Board of Directors was an ideal fit. I think Chris Kuhar
and Sarah Crupi are doing a phenomenal job and they’re really elevating the conversation about what the Zoo is and can be.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SUPPORT PRIMATE FOREST?
I think we’re building something that’s going to get global attention. It’s going to showcase not only our Zoo but also our region, and set an example for other cities that have similar issues with urban tree canopy and access to nature.
It’s also going to help us get kids – especially kids from underserved populations –involved in nature, asking questions about nature, and getting nature education and mentorship they can’t get anywhere else.
WHAT IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES DO YOU THINK PRIMATE FOREST WILL ACHIEVE?
People are going to leave the Zoo understanding the balance between animals and environment, how critical it is – and from that, how important it is to humans. They’re going
to be able to see what it means to be in nature, that it’s really a requirement for a better life. They’re going to work to find ways to get there and demand it in their communities.
WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT MEAN FOR CLEVELAND?
We already have a world-class Zoo. We certainly have scientific expertise that no one else in the world has. It’s exhibited by the story of fostering the infant gorilla from the Fort Worth Zoo – that was a pretty significant accomplishment. You have to earn that; you have to do a lot of work to get to that level. This project is going to let us show more of that to the world.
Cleveland has some of the best institutions in the world, and the Zoo is going to keep pushing the bar up. We have the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and there’s competition – good competition – to attract visitors. Primate Forest is going to keep driving things upward and bring people to Cleveland for entirely new reasons.
Tom and Diane Tyrrell
GORILLA UPDATE
Video highlights our focus on gorilla healthcare
The Zoo’s dedicated animal keepers provide superb care for the gorillas with a focus on troop dynamics as well as the needs of each individual. With an approach rooted in leading scientific research and voluntary positive reinforcement training, the team is supporting the troop’s best health — and inviting them to participate in the process. Scan the code or visit the link below to hear more from gorilla keeper Brian Price in the latest Zoo News 2.0 video.
clevezoosociety.org/gorillahealthcare
“The training we do at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo isn’t just beneficial for our troop. We can collect the data and share it - improving the lives of gorillas in other zoos.”
— BRIAN PRICE Gorilla Keeper, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Brian training Kayembe to open his mouth.
A gorilla voluntarily presents his arm for a blood draw.
THANK YOU
VISIONARIES
The Cleveland Foundation
Cuyahoga County
The Estate of Nancy Hansen
The Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation
Walter* and Jean* Kalberer
The Lubrizol Foundation
MCPC Inc.
The New York Community Trust -
The Thomas W. and Florence T. Murphy Fund No. 2
PNC
Stuart B. Reese Living Trust
Carol and Walt Rosebrough State of Ohio
Zubizarreta Family
CHAMPIONS
The Abington Foundation
Patricia and James Bemer
GiGi Benjamin and Phil Woodcock
Muffy and Jim Boland
Dane and Dottie Carney
The Cashy Family
William E. Conway
Ginny and Howard Essner
Jim and Linda Francis
Hanes Family Foundation
Amy and Tom Haught
The Hershey Foundation
Stephen and Joanne Kirk
Leveranz Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation
The Mistysyn Family
John P. Murphy Foundation
Kevin and Lois Myeroff
Christine and Randy Myeroff
The James Parish Family
Albert and Audrey Ratner
Sylvia and Robert Reitman Family
Albert G. and Olive H. Schlink Foundation
The David Steffee Chair of Veterinary Medicine Gift Fund
The Thomas Family
Tom and Dianne Tyrrell
Carol A. Urick
Tom and Shirley Waltermire
Karen Wilber
Kay Zielazienski
PATRONS Anonymous
Carol A. Barnak
Beeb
Barbara Brown and Steve Ward
Tom and Anita Cook
Kristen and Tom Fistek
Coty and Jessica Franklin
Lawrence and Linda Hatch
Higley Construction
Nancy and Bernie Karr
The Estate of Antonette J. Liskay
Jill and Ken Marous
Dan and Marjorie Moore
Gregg and Deanna Muresan
Anna Nagy
Shelly Peet and Robert Martinko
The Perkins Charitable Foundation
Dr. Melinda S. Phinney
Racey Family
Thomas V.H.* and Iris* J. Vail
Barbara Weiss
CONSERVATORS
American Fundraising Foundation
Anonymous
Archaeological Networks
Steve M. Began and Susan L. Herbold
The Conway Family Foundation
Karen* and Doug Cooper
Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Carol B. Hall
Drs. Adam and Jennifer Hechko
Family Foundation
Susan M. King
The Estate of William L. Kish
The Estate of Carl Lezius
Ronald Sr. and Frances Mawaka
Scott and Julie Mawaka
Lisa and David O’Brien
Russell O’Rourke and Georgia Froelich
Mary Kay Schneider
WDM Architects
Richard and Mary Lynn Wills
Susan L. Zanetti and Dr. Christine Zirafi
KEEPERS
Cheryl Bailey
Jules and Fran Belkin
John and Susan Benedejcic Bicknell Fund
Carl and Dawn Black
Kent and Elaine Downing
Bob and Ruthi Duale
Julie and Adrian Edgar
Robert and Lindsay Elmore
Patricia and Timothy Gabb
Patricia F. Giblin
Elaine Good-Ross
Mary Ann and Richard Greiner
Lindsay, Andrew and Peter Guzowski
William E. Harris Family Fund
In memory of James E. Herrle, John Herrle, and Marie Herrle
Jones Day
Jessica M. Jung
Marilyn and Rick Kay
David and Hope Koncal
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Mahovlic
Ki and Tasha Mixon
Deanna and Joe Murlin
Rob and Kris Rogers
The Antheia Fund at The SearsSwetland Family Foundation
