WalMart Supports The Zoo

(Atascadero CA) The Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero is $500 richer thanks to a donation from  Walmart in honor of Joanne Main, former Atascadero Chamber of Commerce CEO who passed away earlier this year. Walmart representatives presented a check to city officials and Central Coast Zoo Societyboard members at the Charles Paddock Zoo at 9305 Morro Road on Tuesday afternoon, March 29^th.

Those in attendance included Walmart Public Affairs Senior Manager Amelia Neufeld, Central Coast Zoo Society President Jon Jaeger, Board members Judy Hutton, Gail Kudlac and Barbie Butz, Charles Paddock Zoo Director Alan Baker, Atascadero Mayor Tom O’Malley and City Council members Roberta Fonzi and Bob Kelley.

 “The Central Coast Zoo Society is honored to receive this donation from Walmart on behalf of Joanne Main,” said Jaeger. “As a former Board Member, Joanne was keen to our unique treasures here on the Central Coast. I thank Walmart for acknowledging her tremendous local dedication with this generous gift.” Jaeger said the Charles Paddock Zoo was one of Joanne Main’s cherished community facilities in Atascadero.

“Those of us from Walmart who had the honor to collaborate with Joanne and maintain communication with the Atascadero Chamber are saddened by such a heartfelt community loss, we know she had an influential impact,” said Neufeld. “We acknowledge her efforts to help community organizations and know this donation to the Zoo will help families live better as well as promote Atascadero’s goal of becoming a family-oriented destination.”

“We appreciate very much the donation from Walmart to the Zoo. Joanne was on the zoo society board for many years,” said Baker. “We hope this money will go to our education programs here at Charles Paddock Zoo.”

The Charles Paddock Zoo is a five acre facility located on State Highway 41 just west of the intersection with US Highway 101. The Zoo displays and cares for more than 100 animals in a five-acre park adjacent to Atascadero Lake. It is the only accredited zoo between Santa Barbara and San Jose and strives to educate Central Coast visitors on wildlife awareness, conservation and scientific research. In addition to the Zoo’s commitment to wildlife, staff devotes much of its efforts to education programs. A portion of Walmart’s donation may support programs like the Charles Paddock Book Club, children workshops, weekly story times and Zoo camps. Zoo camps explore the concepts of animal care and the natural world, teaching children the importance of caring about wildlife.

The Central Coast Zoo Society supports the Charles Paddock Zoo, a popular area-wide attraction in San Luis Obispo County. First established in 1962 as the “Children’s Zoo Friendship Society” and later changed to the Central Coast Zoo Society in 2008, the organization works to educate the public and preserve wildlife. Donations can be claimed as tax-deductible charitable contributions according to current state and federal tax guidelines. For more information on the Central Coast Zoo Society, call (805) 470-3184, email jjaeger@charlespaddockzoo.org or visit www.charlespaddockzoo.org.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation support charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. TheWalmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and theWalmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.