OrangeParkJournal.com

JACKSONVILLE- A major gift that will benefit hundreds of low-income families and hundreds of families who have adopted children in Duval County was announced today by the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Families in the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program and families who have recently adopted children through Family Support Services of North Florida will receive free annual memberships at the Zoo.

These families will get a membership card that entitles them to free visits to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens any time during normal Zoo hours for one year. Over the next year, up to 1,000 families will be eligible for this special membership program. This program is being sponsored by Bank of America, which has made a significant corporate commitment.

“We are proud to be the first in the state to partner with the Department of Children and Families to offer a program like this,” said Dennis Pate, executive director of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. “Our hope is that these families will get to experience the excitement of the Zoo and reap the cultural and educational benefits as well.”

“This is an excellent example of a community partnership that will help families,” said Nancy Dreicer, Northeast Region Director for the Florida Department of Children and Families in Jacksonville. “This will help many low-income families who might never have the opportunity to see the Zoo. Whether it’s families who have been struggling with financial issues or new families created through the joy of adoption, these annual Zoo memberships will bring children and parents together.”

“Bank of America is excited to sponsor this new program,” said Gregory Smith, Northeast Florida Market President, Bank of America. “These annual membership passes will bring new opportunities for new families formed by adoption. Additionally, these passes will make it easier for lower-income families to see the outstanding exhibits at the Zoo. We are excited to partner with both the Jacksonville Zoo and the Florida Department of Children and Families.”

“All of our organizations care deeply about the families in our community,” said Jim Adams, chief executive officer of Family Support Services of North Florida.

“The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is one of the finest zoos in the country, and Bank of America is an excellent community and corporate citizen,” said Adams. “The real winners here are the children and families who will have great experiences at the Zoo.

Several local organizations will play major roles in this important program. The Department of Children and Families will determine eligibility for federal and state programs for lower-income families receiving economic assistance. The Department partners with WorkSource Florida to find jobs for parents in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. About 500 families in Duval County are currently participating in this program. Family Support Services contracts with the Department of Children and Families to handle adoption and foster care in Duval County. More than 250 Jacksonville families who have adopted children through Family Support Services since July 2007 will be eligible to receive the membership passes. Once these families agree to have their names and addresses released, Family Support Services and WorkSource Florida will send that information to the Zoo. The Zoo will then send annual membership cards via mail. Families that qualify for these special programs now and throughout 2008 will receive the free Zoo memberships. All information will remain confidential.

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 1,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Located on Jacksonville’s north side two miles off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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.

The Florida Department of Children and Families delivers many services to our state, including overseeing adoptions and foster care through its community-based care initiatives, investigating cases of neglect in the care of children or vulnerable adults, providing economic self-sufficiency assistance to thousands of Florida residents and housing people with mental illnesses. The Department’s website is www.state.fl.us/cf_web

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