April 2013 The PlatyPress is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Circle. The Platypus Circle is composed of individuals, corporations and foundations who share our passion for supporting the Milwaukee County Zoo, conserving endangered animal species, and teaching the importance of preserving wildlife and its natural environment. The PlatyPress is published three times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. www.zoosociety.org
New Member Profile: Getting the Family Involved resources and risk management consulting company. Rebecca Verhagen, of Hartland, who is one of Pearson’s daughters and a mother of two, explains: “We vote with a weighted scale. You can give your highest weighted vote to your favorite non-profit. The Zoological Society is always a big vote getter.” That’s hardly surprising because the Pearsons have been taking their daughters to the Milwaukee County Zoo for as long as the girls can remember. “Rebecca and I grew up as big animal lovers,” says daughter Michelle, who lives in Cedarburg with her husband and two children. “My dad has always said that our Zoo is one of Milwaukee’s greatest assets.” Originally from West Des Moines, Iowa, Pearson – who resides in Mequon – moved to Milwaukee in 1982 to open a new office for his company. He decided to stay because Milwaukee seemed like a great place to raise a family. As his daughter Michelle attests, it wasn’t lost on him that Milwaukee has a great Zoo. “I’ve been to a number of zoos in the country and I put ours right up there among the best,” he says. Pearson’s favorite animals are big cats. “I like their combination of grace and power.” He was very excited when the Zoo’s African lions Themba and Sanura had cubs in July 2011, and he’s been “watching with interest as the jaguar cubs grow.” Pearson is a new member of the Platypus Circle, and he used one of the Platypus benefits to go on a VIP behind-the-scenes tour with Rebecca, who is partial to the Small Mammals Building. “She got a real kick out of watching a fruit bat eat grapes,” he says. “I was impressed with how much goes on behind the scenes that the public doesn’t know about.”
From left: Rick and Susan Pearson pose with daughter Rebecca and son-in-law Stephen Verhagen at last year’s annual Platypus Circle Recognition Dinner. Not shown are daughter Michelle and her husband, Eddie Sauer. Photo by Richard Brodzeller
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bout two years ago Rick Pearson started a new family tradition. On Thanksgiving Pearson and his wife, Susan – as well as their two adult daughters and their husbands – began voting on non-profit organizations to support. “I wanted to teach my children about philanthropy,” says Pearson, who established the Pearson Family Foundation for that purpose shortly after retiring from Towers Watson, a human
Pearson’s passion for the Zoo has rubbed off on his daughters. Rebecca has taken her 5-year-old and 3-year-old children to Zoological Society education classes. Michelle, who has a baby and a child nearing 2, plans to do the same. ZSM classes start at age 2. Both women have already embraced their father’s belief in the importance of philanthropy. “My grandfather was a big believer in philanthropy and he passed it on to my father,” says Michelle. “Rebecca and I hope to teach our children the same values.” That’s exactly what Pearson wants. “I hope my legacy is that our Thanksgiving tradition will continue and that as (my daughters’) kids get older, it will perpetuate.” By Zak Mazur