Asheboro, NC - An announcement earlier this month that woeful economic news has not dampened donor generosity to the N.C. Zoo Society is consistent with national trends reported today by the Associated Press (AP).
Americans from Asheboro to Seattle are not letting the turmoil on Wall Street prevent them from taking care of needs on Main Street, and 2008 net revenues to the Zoo Society are up 18 percent over 2007.This may be the silver lining to the economic news we’ve been hearing as we head into the holiday season,” said Russ Williams, N.C. Zoo Society executive director.
Regarding the holidays, the AP reports that some corporations’ employees are foregoing company parties in lieu of charitable giving, and about half of all Americans are more likely to give to charity than buy a traditional present.
Yet Americans tend to be generous year round. The AP also reports that at least two of every three Americans give to charity and that U.S. charitable organizations have seen donations increase for 39 of the past 40 years.
Our members and donors continue to support the N.C. Zoo and conservation even when times are tough,” Williams said. “This generosity not only demonstrates real passion for the zoo and conservation today, it shows confidence that better days are coming. This is perhaps the best news of all.”
So far this year, the Zoo Society has received thousands of memberships and donations ranging from $1 to $250,000, bringing net support and operating revenues to more than $2.8 million compared to $2.4 million through the first ten months of last year.
Zoo Society professional staff are humbled by the trust donors place in us as stewards of a portion of their increasingly stretched resources,” Williams said. “In a very real sense, we are stewards of a brighter future that so many are giving so much to provide.”
The North Carolina Zoological Society is a private non-profit organization that supports the N.C. Zoo and conservation. The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor.