The Zoo's new Ani mal Health Center was christened Sep coats and stethosco t. 4, 2003, at a gal pes are the people a Platypus/VIP pre who helped give birt miere. Posing with Steven Fisher, Dr. Gil h to the center: (fro lab Boese and Chuck m left) Bonnie Jos Wik enh auser. Joseph was Motors, Inc., gave eph, Jerry Holz, Att the chair of the Zoo a major gift through y. log his ical fam Soc ily foundation to hel the Holz Family Fou iety Board. Holz, of p finance a hospita ndation Learning Zon Holz l visitor-education e. Fisher is a trustee sponsored the aca area that’s called of the Gretchen & demic / administrat Andrew Dawes Cha ive wing of the hos Zoo Director Wikenh ritable Trust, which pital. Dr. Boese, the auser worked togeth n-president of the er in a public-private more than $30 mil Zoological Society partnership to con lion. , and duct a capital cam paign that raised
The Zoological Society’s prestigious Emu Egg Award was presented to Jerry and Dorothy Holz of the Holz Family Foundation at the 19th Annual Platypus Awards Dinner in October 2000, at the Zoo. The Emu Egg award, a real emu egg, honors outstanding support to the Society and the Milwaukee County Zoo.
The Jerome and Dorothy Holz Family Foundation was a significant contributor to the New Zoo II campaign that remodeled more than 25% of the Zoo between 2001 and 2008. The foundation provided major support for the remodeled impala and bongo yards, the first project of the campaign. A baby impala was born three days before the Holz Family Impala Country exhibit opened in spring 2001 and was named Chevy in honor of Chevrolet cars (such as the Impala) sold by Holz Motors. Two years later, in 2003, the foundation provided support for the Animal Health Center, and created the Holz Family Foundation Learning Zone. In 2005, Judy and Bill Stathas supported three key areas in the new feline building, called the Florence Mila Borchert Big Cat Country. Those areas were the feline theater, nutritional center and children’s educational area. “Most people think of the Zoo as this place that takes care of animals – and takes care of them very well,” says Judy Holz Stathas. Yet the Zoo and ZSM are so much more, she says. The Holz Family Foundation has been a significant supporter of ZSM education programs, especially the Animal Ambassador program, which brings students to the Zoo from schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. ZSM instructors also bring programs to those schools, and the students learn how to be ambassadors for endangered animals. Also, the foundation supports internships for
college students to assist with ZSM summer camps, which draw up to 12,000 participants annually. Judy Holz Stathas sees one of her roles as proudly promoting the Zoo and bringing in more visitors. Yet she wears many hats since she represents four separate Holz Family entities that support various projects of the ZSM. She has been on the ZSM Board since 2004, and before that was on the Associate Board for a decade. She also serves on the development committee, education committee, and research and conservation committee. She and her husband, Bill, are 21-year Platypus Circle members and have chaired numerous events, including a Platypus road rally back in 1997 (see photo). “We were involved in the road rally for nine of the ten years that it ran,” says Judy, who adds that she has made many friends through the Platypus Circle. “It’s a group of like-minded individuals who have a love for the Zoo, and often we find there are other interests we share.” In November 2000, Jerome and Dorothy Holz received the ZSM’s most prestigious award, the Emu Egg, for their outstanding commitment to the ZSM and the Zoo. Ten years later, Judy Holz Stathas was presented with the same award for her exceptional commitment. And this
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