BRONX, NY 鈥� (November 30, 2009) 鈥� While the animals at the 菊花视频鈥檚 Bronx Zoo have coats to keep them warm and toys to keep them happy, many New Yorkers are not quite so lucky. 听 This year, the 菊花视频鈥檚 Bronx Zoo is participating in the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.鈥檚 annual toy drive as well as the New York Cares Coat Drive. Through a partnership with both programs, WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo will be helping New Yorkers in need to stay warm and make sure families have holiday gifts for their children. 听 鈥淭he 菊花视频 is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, and New York Cares to give back to the community that has supported our institution for more than 110 years,鈥� said John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. 鈥淏oth are truly worthy causes and we are proud to have a hand in making the holidays more enjoyable for families in need of a helping hand.鈥� 听 Through the month of December, WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo is partnering with Bronx Borough President and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce to collect toys for underprivileged children. Visitors to the zoo can bring their unwrapped toys to the drop-off point in the Zoo Center building for distribution by the Borough President鈥檚 office. 听 鈥淲e all can make a difference in the lives of many children by sharing the true meaning of love and kindness during this special time of year. Let鈥檚 all donate a toy to remind our neediest families that their community cares and supports them,鈥� said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. 听 听 鈥淭he Bronx Chamber of Commerce is happy to participate in the Bronx Borough President's toy drive. The Chamber and its members are committed to the children of the borough especially during the holiday season. We anticipate this year's toy drive will be the biggest ever due to the generous support and enthusiasm of our donors. It is quite heartwarming to help these children enjoy the holidays,鈥� said Lenny Caro, President and CEO. 听 Also, though the entire month of December, WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo will be one of New York City鈥檚 largest cultural institutions collecting costs for the New York Cares Coat Drive. Last year New York Cares collected 13,000 coats for the Bronx which were distributed to 67 agencies across the borough. 听 Visitors to the zoo can bring new and/or gently used coats for women, men, children, and infants to the drop-off point in the Zoo Center building for distribution to people in need citywide by New York Cares. 听 听 鈥淭he efforts of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo will help us provide a lifeline for families in need and thousands of other New Yorkers who would otherwise not have a warm coat for the winter,鈥� said Gary Bagley, New York Cares Executive Director. 鈥淭he economic crisis has hit low-income families especially hard, so the need for coats will be especially great this year. We appreciate WCS鈥� generosity in offering free tickets to the zoo as an added incentive to people who give coats at the Bronx Zoo.鈥� 听 As a thank you to all who donate a toy or coat while visiting the zoo, the 菊花视频 will give each donor a free admission ticket for their next visit to the zoo. 听 *Free ticket offer limited to 4 free tickets per family. Tickets are valid from January 1 through December 31, 2010.
Contact: Max Pulsinelli 鈥� 718-220-5182 鈥� mpulsinelli@wcs.org Stephen Sautner 鈥� 718-220-3682 鈥� ssautner@wcs.org About New York Cares New York Cares is New York City鈥檚 largest volunteer organization. Founded in 1987, New York Cares runs volunteer programs at 1,000 nonprofits, public schools, and city agencies to help meet the critical needs of people living in poverty. 听The New York Cares Coat Drive, presented by Health Plus, 听takes place from December 1 鈥� 31 each year and has collected and distributed more than 1.3 million coats for New Yorkers in need since 1989. 听New York Cares hopes to collect 70-80,000 coats during December, 2009. 听For more information, please visit. 听 The Bronx Zoo, a 菊花视频 park, is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Martin Luther King Day. 听Adult admission is $15, children (3-12 years old) $11, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $13. Parking is $12 for cars and $16 for buses. WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit or call 718-367-1010. 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The 菊花视频 saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world鈥檚 largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.
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