Apple Valley, MINN – November 13, 2017 – Give to the Max Day 2017 will occur on Thursday, November 16 and the Minnesota Zoo will be utilizing social media to showcase what happens at the Zoo in a 24-hour period. The campaign, “The Zoo never sleeps…,” will highlight the various activities that go on at the Minnesota Zoo all day, every day and how donations received on Give to the Max Day help support Zoo operations – locally and globally.

The Minnesota Zoo has been an active participant in Give to the Max Day, hosted by GiveMN, since 2011 and since then has raised more than $350,000 from more than 2,700 individual donors. “This is an important day for philanthropy across our state and for the Minnesota Zoo Foundation,” says Tony Grundhauser, executive director for the Minnesota Zoo Foundation. “Give to the Max Day is a great opportunity to connect with new donors and really help share the amazing work we do at the [Minnesota] Zoo every day. Every donation, big or small, makes an impact on our ability to connect people with animals and nature to save wildlife.”

Minnesota Zoo Foundation staff, Heidi Paltzer says, “We are really excited to utilize the power of social media and showcase all of the great work that goes on at the Zoo 24-hours a day for this year’s campaign.” Paltzer continues, “We really are like our very own small city and we think people will be really surprised at all that goes on behind the scenes here at the Zoo.”

The Minnesota Zoo is a Minnesota State Agency with an operating budget where one-third comes from state funding. The remaining two-thirds is self-earned through gate admissions, program fees, etc. along with private funds that come through the Minnesota Zoo Foundation. The Minnesota Zoo Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Minnesota Zoo Fun Facts:

• On average, the Minnesota Zoo employs 270 employees year-round.
• The Zoo is home to more than 4,800 animals representing more than 500 species.
• The Zoo is actively leading and participating in wildlife conservation projects, located in Minnesota and around the world.
• The Minnesota Zoo is the largest environmental education facility in the state, engaging more than 350,000 education participants annually.
• The Zoo’s NEW Free to Explore program provided free access to more than 82,000 Minnesotans in fiscal year 2017.

The Minnesota Zoo is a year-round destination located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. The Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals and the natural world to save wildlife. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).