Elmwood Park Zoo is excited to announce that the charitable foundation Quest for the Best will match every private donation that the zoo receives throughout the month of May, up to $25,000. Quest for the Best will also count zoo memberships, adopt-an-animal packages, and gift cards purchased during this period toward their matching program.

Immediately after its closure in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the zoo began raising money for an Emergency Fund to support its daily animal care expenses. Without the ability to rely on admission revenue, the cost of essential items like food and medication threatened to empty the zoo’s reserves. Donations made to the Emergency Fund have directly supported these expenses.

“We are thankful to the Quest for the Best Foundation for presenting us with this matching grant that will double the donations made by the community,” said Jennifer Conti, Elmwood Park Zoo’s Director of Development. “We are very much looking forward to when our gates can open again, and each donation makes a difference until we are given permission to do so.”

“In furtherance of its mission to provide financial support to worthy causes in the Delaware Valley, Quest for the Best is pleased to support the Elmwood Park Zoo at a time when it faces enormous challenges in meeting the costs of maintaining the health, well-being, and safety of its animals,” said Taras Wochok, President of Quest for the Best.

Quest for the Best is led by legal professionals that provide business and transactional legal services to nonprofit organizations primarily located in Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Bucks Counties. They also provide counseling and advice to the appropriate individuals that are served by these organizations.

“We are eternally grateful to Quest for the Best, as well as all of the zoo’s members, patrons and neighbors that have supported us during this time,” said Al Zone, Elmwood Park Zoo’s Executive Director and CEO. “Quest for the Best’s matching program to support our Emergency Fund will no doubt attract new supporters, while helping to ensure that we can continue providing our animals with exceptional care.” 

Donations can be made to Elmwood Park Zoo’s Emergency Fund by visiting elmwoodparkzoo.org/emergency or by calling 610.277.3825 x 229.