Zoo foundation wins award
The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation received the 2024 Hospitality and Tourism of the Year Award from the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, the foundation announced in a news release.
“The Foundation is pleased to be recognized for our support of the award-winning Sequoia Park Zoo and our ongoing partnership with the City of Eureka,” Candy Stockton, the board president of the foundation said in a prepared statement. “The Sequoia Park Zoo is an amazing asset for our community in addition to bringing more tourism to our region.”
Fundraising efforts of the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation achieved significant accomplishments in 2023 including:
• Completion of the bear and coyote habitat;
• Funding endangered species projects such as the Condor Care Center for reintroduced condors on the North Coast;
• Lighting and electrical installation projects illuminating zoo grounds and powered the inaugural Zoo Lights: Holiday Extravaganza
The foundation's executive director, Alegria Sita, lauded the long-time commitment of the organization.
“This year SPZF is celebrating 20 years of supporting and enhancing our small, yet nationally recognized, world-class zoo. In two decades, we've raised over $14 million dollars, and changed the face of the zoo, all with the intention of becoming a premier tourist destination.” she said. “This award is an affirmation that you, our community, believe in, support and contribute to the work we are doing together to draw tourism to our remarkable redwood coast. Thank you, and here's to another 20+ years of partnership, collaboration, cooperation, and vision!”