“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.

 

“ As Snoqualmie People, it’s our teachings and ancestral duty to care for the land and animals that do not have a voice.”

Why is supporting efforts to protect Pacific Northwest species and habitats, as well as promoting the importance of coexistence between people and wildlife, important to the Snoqualmie Tribe?

The Tribe’s ancestral lands have been heavily consumed, extracted, and manipulated in the last 200 or so years. As Snoqualmie People, it’s our teachings and ancestral duty to care for the land and animals that do not have a voice. It’s our responsibility to speak up for them and help educate others on how their actions and decisions impact these lands and the plants and animals that call this place home.

Can you tell us a little bit about the history or motivation behind your other philanthropic priorities?

In the Snoqualmie Tribe, you are taught at an early age to give generously and to take care of one another. Snoqualmie is fortunate enough to be in a position to provide to the community not only monetary donations but also educational resources, knowledge, and so much more. Giving is deeply rooted in our culture and is something we see as a Tribal value. 

When deciding which organizations to give our charitable donations to, we look at those with projects, goals and values that align with the Tribe’s. Values and missions include taking care of and restoring lands and the animals that inhabit them, and taking care of our people, especially youth, elders and veterans.

Can you tell us a little bit about the Ancestral Lands Movement? Do you see alignment between that initiative and work happening at Woodland Park Zoo, and if so, in what way?

People look to Woodland Park Zoo as a leader in environmental education, especially for topics involving wildlife and habitat. Likewise, the Tribe is actively sharing information through the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Lands Movement about how individuals can practice mindfulness and respect while recreating, living, and working on our ancestral lands, where many of the zoo’s visitors reside. It made sense to align in this mission of sharing public education about how to peacefully co-exist with wildlife in urban areas, and to do so in a way that reminded individuals that these lands were home to these plants, animals, and the Snoqualmie People, long before the settlers arrived. We carry these teachings and values of peaceful co-existence because it’s what our ancestors practiced since time immemorial.

Is there anything else you want readers to know about the Snoqualmie Tribe’s charitable giving or work with the community?

The Tribe receives hundreds of applications a year for charitable giving and there are so many great projects and initiatives and organizations that need support to achieve their missions. We truly appreciate all the work carried out by organizations like Woodland Park Zoo that aligns with the Snoqualmie Tribe’s core values and initiatives. There is so much work to be done to care for our planet, and it’s going to require collective action.

In your opinion, what is the most important work that the zoo does?

Woodland Park Zoo is leading in their critical work encompassing education, and the need to foster empathetic, respectful connections between animals and humans. By educating visitors about the significant impact humans have on wildlife and their habitats, WPZ plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and advocating for conservation efforts. It serves as a vital platform where children and adults alike can nurture their excitement and curiosity about the natural world, encouraging a deeper understanding and respect for the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. This blend of education, connection, and conservation is fundamental in shaping a future where both wildlife and humans can thrive together.

What stood out to you or excites you about the zoo’s most recent grant to engage more people in carnivore coexistence efforts through educational materials translated into multiple languages? 

The recent development and collaboration on the wildlife co-existence signage is meaningful. It’s taking the zoo and that educational work outside of the zoo’s outside walls and into the community, and people need those reminders wherever they are traveling. It’s one thing to read signage about wildlife while you’re at the zoo and the animals are at a safe distance. It’s another thing to see signage from the zoo in your own neighborhood reminding you of the duty and responsibility you have to take actions or make decisions that support urban species, even when it’s not convenient to you. People need reminders of the need to decenter ourselves and make sure we are considering how our actions are impacting others (and not just other humans). 

One of the core tenets of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s Ancestral Lands Movement has been to be more inclusive of Tribal narratives. It’s especially meaningful to have that signage include Lushootseed names for those animals—it's part of reminding people of where they are, the history of that place, and the need to listen to, and respect, Tribal voices in caring for these animals.

What do you hope the zoo will achieve in the near future? In the long term?

In the near future, we hope Woodland Park Zoo will continue to acknowledge and deepen their integration of the cultural and environmental heritage of the Coast Salish people, including the Snoqualmie, on whose land it stands, by promoting indigenous conservation methods and educating visitors on the historical significance of this land. Long-term, we envision Woodland Park Zoo becoming a model for collaborative efforts between indigenous communities and conservation entities, by leading initiatives that respect and incorporate traditional ecological knowledge to protect wildlife and habitats, thus ensuring the preservation of our shared natural heritage for future generations.