For immediate release

Contact: Mercede New – (904) 757-4463, ext. 211

 Special Children Are Treated to a “Dreamnight at the Zoo”

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on June 6, 2008

June 5, 2008 - Jacksonville, Fl - The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is partnering with Dreamnight at the Zoo, to offer an exclusive, cost-free evening to chronically ill or disabled children and their immediate families.  The invitation-only event will take place on Friday, June 6th, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  The “dreamnight” experience will include animal encounters throughout the Zoo, train and carousel rides, stingray, giraffe and lorikeet bird feedings, petting zoo and more.  The title sponsor of the event is Toyota, who contributed $10,000.  Other sponsors who have donated free gifts and gift bags, drawing prizes, entertainment, food and drink and more include Bubba Burgers, Blue Bell, Pepsi, Winn-Dixie, Animal Planet, Ice Man, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Jax4kids.com, Y? Entertainment, Jacksonville Suns, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

“We are proud to open our Zoo and hearts to over 400 Northeast Florida children with special healthcare needs (and their families),” said Dennis Pate, executive director of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We want to provide a magical and memorable evening at the Zoo that these children may not be able to experience otherwise.  We owe a special thanks to our sponsors for their generous contributions and all the volunteers that have made this event possible.”

Dreamnight at the Zoo started at Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands in 1996 and was initially held for children with cancer.  It has now spread to zoos all over the world.  The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is one of only 27 zoos nationwide to participate.  The event will be held annually on the first Friday in June.

Invitations for this year’s event have already been distributed through select local hospitals and other non-profit healthcare organizations.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  The Zoo is open until 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day. For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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