“We get more out of it than we give”

Dave Goldberg has long admired how zoos weave together fun, environmental learning and conservation of wildlife.

His support for Woodland Park Zoo began more than two decades ago when his design firm, Mithun, was hired to plan and design a series of new visitor experiences in the zoo’s Temperate Forest zone. Later, they again lent their expertise in designing the zoo’s wildly popular nature-inspired learning and indoor play space, Zoomazium. We have Dave and his colleagues at Mithun to thank for this space that brings joy and environmental education to young learners at the zoo each and every day.

The project was especially meaningful for him and helped make him a “cool dad,” as his own children spent a lot of quality time there while growing up. These days, his oldest daughter studies animal sciences, and he believes their years of family engagement with the zoo played no small part in her decision to pursue a career working with animals.

Today, Dave is president at Mithun where sustainability and protecting the environment are core values. Their teams strive to be leaders in creating new paradigms for designing buildings and landscapes that will have positive impacts on the environment and community.

For them, part of helping the community means giving generously to local organizations like the zoo.

“We get more out of it than we give,” Dave remarks.

He and the team at Mithun are inspired by the zoo’s commitment to education and dedication to protecting wildlife around the world and are eager to contribute to this work. In addition to designing sustainable and educational spaces on grounds, the firm has also been a regular corporate sponsor for fundraising events such as Thrive, Jungle Party and more recently, All for Animals Giving Day.

Currently, Mithun is excited to lend their talent to help transform the zoo’s Family Farm. The reimagined exhibit will enable guests to interact with animals and deepen their own empathy for wildlife.

For Dave, the zoo is a vital community asset, and he has been a committed supporter in his personal life as well as his professional one. In addition to his design work, he is a zoo Director Emeritus, having served on the Board of Directors for 10 years. During that time, he worked with zoo leadership to establish strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, which shape decisions around building design, facility updates and energy efficiency to this day.

He remains connected with the leadership team, and their work to drive positive change for the environment really resonates with him.

“Woodland Park Zoo is really trying to be a leading, global organization in the fields of wildlife conservation and education, and that’s rewarding to be a part of,” Dave says.

He is also motivated by the level of devotion and care shown by animal keepers and other zoo staff.

“I’ve seen it, I’ve met with the people who work there. It’s really impressive,” he notes.

He recalls a behind-the-scenes visit with reptiles and amphibians, and the incredible passion of their lead animal keeper.

“She had tears in her eyes telling stories about these animals most people wouldn’t pay much attention to. That level of devotion stuck with me,” Dave remarks.

He hopes staff will continue enhancing the reach of the zoo’s immersive and educational experiences, especially for kids throughout the region.

“The emotional connection is so important for people to take action in their lives,” Dave says. “The difference between seeing an animal online or in a book versus looking another living being in the eyes is something you take with you forever.”

Thank you to Dave Goldberg and the team at Mithun for their years of generous support of Woodland Park Zoo. Their partnership empowers us to create a more sustainable zoo experience for all, helping us provide ecological education and inspire action to save wildlife.

 

“It’s an entirely different experience to actually be there and interact with animals in some way”

For Mark Ghiorso and Carla Johnson, zoos have long been more than just places to see animals. They have also been places of wonder, connection and excitement. Growing up in California, both built lifelong connections at their local zoos: Mark was a kid who practically lived at his, visiting at least once a week, while Carla worked a summer job at hers and experienced the fun of getting to work near animals almost daily. Both came away with a deep appreciation for wildlife and the role zoos play in bringing people closer to nature.

Today, their passion for wildlife is stronger than ever, and the couple has combined their love of animals with their love of traveling. Carla and Mark often visit the local zoo in each town or city they travel to. While they cherish these adventures abroad, they remain grateful to return to Seattle where they can connect with nature close to home at Woodland Park Zoo.

Their connection with the zoo began more than a decade ago when Carla bought Mark an Annual Pass for his birthday. She jokes that Mark is impossible to shop for, but knowing his love for animals and zoos, she had a hunch this gift would be a winner.

Carla was right and before long Mark was walking to the zoo on a weekly basis. Soon, Carla began joining him in making weekly treks to the zoo for exercise and to visit their favorite feathered and furry friends.

One day their trip to the zoo overlapped with animal keeper John working in the Humboldt penguin exhibit. Mark was captivated by the meticulous care and attention John showed for each penguin, knowing the names of more than 40 birds and ensuring every individual got exactly what they needed.

“That extraordinary level of dedication really impressed me,” Mark recalls.

Animal care is extremely important to Carla and Mark and seeing the commitment from animal keepers like John inspired them to join the zoo’s Wild at Heart annual giving society. To this day, they designate the majority of their generous gifts toward the zoo’s world-class animal care and deeply value the high quality of life given to each animal at the zoo.

The pair take great pride in helping to support the zoo’s passionate staff, whose expert care ensures both the well-being of the animals and meaningful experiences for visitors. They believe that creating opportunities for up-close interactions is the most important piece of the zoo’s work to protect wildlife and that children especially will come away with a deeper appreciation for animal conservation and these species in the wild.

Recently, the couple made an impactful contribution toward the zoo’s upcoming Forest Trailhead exhibit where visitors will meet endangered forest animals like tree kangaroos and red pandas in their canopy homes. They believe fostering these personal connections with forest species is a crucial step in motivating others to make forest-friendly choices in their everyday habits, to gain a new appreciation of protecting forests—including our own urban forest—and to help safeguard the natural world.

“It’s an entirely different experience to actually be there and interact with animals in some way,” Mark explains.

Mark and Carla have had a number of their own special interactions with zoo animals and reminisce about an especially memorable visit to the zoo’s lion exhibit. As someone who is very passionate about big cats, Mark was thrilled when the late male lion, Xerxes, approached one of the viewing windows and seemed to look him right in the eye. The powerful moment took a funny turn when Xerxes turned around and sprayed all over the glass. Children nearby who witnessed the encounter squealed and their delighted shrieks only added to the specialness of the moment for Mark.

“The kids will never forget it and that’s profound. You don’t get that on YouTube. That’s the kind of experience I think is important,” Mark says. Today, he and Carla visit Xerxes’ son Tandie who shares the African Savanna lion habitat with female Ilanga.

Thank you to Carla Johnson and Mark Ghiorso for your passion for wildlife and generous support of Woodland Park Zoo and our upcoming Forest Trailhead exhibit. Your commitment helps us provide exceptional care to the animals at the zoo and strengthens our ability to unite local and global communities in saving species and greenspaces in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

 

“You want the best care for the animals and the conservation message to get out there, because it matters”

When Annette Dixon began her well-deserved retirement, she knew she wanted to keep giving back to the community in a place that brought her joy. Annette spent her early years of marriage on a farm in the Midwest and knew she wanted to keep this connection to animals. Her love of animals led her to Woodland Park Zoo, where she was struck by the well-designed and naturalistic habitats, especially the Humboldt penguin habitat.

Penguins have long held a special place in Annette’s heart. She feels fortunate when reminiscing about trips to South America and Antarctica where she encountered penguin species in the wild. On the coast of Peru, she saw Humboldt penguins in their native environment and was amazed by how closely the zoo’s exhibit replicated their natural habitat.

“It mirrors exactly that experience and I thought, they know what they’re doing here,” she remarks.

That moment sparked what has become a 15-year journey of volunteering, making friends with fellow nature enthusiasts and helping further the mission of the zoo she loves.

“That’s where my heart is,” she says of volunteering.

Over the years, Annette has been consistently impressed by the passion and dedication shown by the animal keepers and all zoo staff—not only in caring for animals, but in creating a welcoming environment for all. This includes the evolution of the zoo’s volunteer program to focus more on the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, those who are neurodivergent and those who have specific support needs.

Inclusivity and accessibility are values Annette holds dear, and she has also been proud to see them in action at the snow leopard habitat, where she spends much of her time volunteering and interacting with guests. She witnessed how expanding and remodeling the exhibit’s pathway made this space more accessible to all visitors—a change she actively advocated for. Now, guests of all abilities can enjoy a visit with these majestic cats and become inspired to act in helping to protect their species.

“You want the best care for the animals and the conservation message to get out there, because it matters,” she notes. “And if you can do some little part to make that happen, you’re doing something you can feel positive about.”

Her love for both animals and people shines through when she talks about young visitors to the zoo. She enjoys chatting with children who spout animal facts like budding zoologists and is inspired by their amazement when they spot an elusive animal in their habitat. For her, these moments reaffirm why it’s important to make the zoo accessible, so every child has the opportunity to connect with the natural world.

One memory stands out: a snow leopard cub crept right to the edge of their habitat and was so small and well-camouflaged, Annette didn’t notice them quietly watching guests. It was only when someone pointed the cat out that she realized what had sparked the nearby kids’ excitement.

“You can’t buy happiness like that,” she says.

Annette’s support extends beyond her time and energy as a volunteer; she is also a proud member of the LionHearts Society, the zoo’s planned giving donor recognition society. Her thoughtful intention to leave a legacy gift helps secure a sustainable future for the zoo’s species-saving programs, world-class animal care and role in providing a place for individuals and families to experience the wonder of wildlife.

She doesn’t boast about this support and notes, “Many of us are just ordinary people who like to hang out at the zoo.”

Thank you to Annette for the many ways she supports Woodland Park Zoo. From her unwavering dedication as a volunteer to her generous decision to include the zoo in her estate plans—her time, passion, and care will have left a lasting impact on the zoo’s efforts to save wildlife and inspire our community to act in protecting the natural world.

 

“Through our partnership with the zoo, we are able to offer opportunities that expand young people's understanding about the wide array of careers that support the important work of conservation.”

Career connected learning experiences for young people are an area of focus for both Woodland Park Zoo and foundry10. Why does foundry10 prioritize this area of work?

Research continually demonstrates that meaningful work-based learning experiences can have incredibly positive impacts on young people's career trajectories. We want to help young people learn in-demand skills and access high-quality internships that set them up for future success. We were thrilled to support the extraordinary work-based learning experiences at Woodland Park Zoo that can prepare young people to thrive in their careers and adult lives.

What appealed to foundry10 about the zoo’s internship program?

The Woodland Park Zoo Summer Internship program is very unique. Intern recruitment explicitly focuses on underrepresented groups from conservation and zoo (and related) careers. Interns gain hands-on experience working with animals, promoting conservation efforts, learning marketing skills and much, much more. We strive to support internship programs that give young people real on-the-job experiences and professional mentorship. The Woodland Park Zoo program offers just that!

You had the opportunity to interview interns from the zoo’s most recent cohort to feature on social media. What stood out to you about their experiences?

We enjoyed hearing from the interns about their compelling experiences working for the zoo over the summer. Students referenced the clear connections they made between what they learned in the classroom and what they learned out in the field. As one intern said in an interview, "I had never really gotten so hands-on in research before and yeah, it just really felt like I was making a difference and I was involved in the process, so it was really awesome."

What do you appreciate most about the zoo’s goal of opening career pathways for students underrepresented in environmental and conservation fields? 

We believe that all young people should have access to meaningful learning and work experiences. Programs like this, where there are so many fields represented and opportunities to learn new skills, can help break down barriers and create a more inclusive environment for conservation careers.

What do you hope the partnership between Woodland Park Zoo and foundry10 will accomplish?

Through our partnership with the zoo, we are able to offer opportunities that expand young people's understanding about the wide array of careers that support the important work of conservation. Bringing young people into contact with seasoned professionals invested in their learning and success is a key objective of foundry10. Woodland Park Zoo offers truly exceptional mentorship opportunities that we know create direct value for youth. In 2025, we're looking forward to supporting college-level internships at the zoo.

Is there anything else you want readers to know about foundry10’s work with youth or within the community?

foundry10 strives to improve the lives of today's youth through learning and exploration. By working collaboratively in the community and really focusing on youth experiences, we can help open up opportunities that young people might not otherwise have. We ground our approach in research and know that being around professionals, like those mentors and experts at the zoo, helps young people gain exposure and clarity about their own career paths and futures. Helping to create and support those opportunities for young people is something we are proud to do!