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COMMUNITY Caring Beyond Our Gates Some of the annual events hosted by the Brookfield AAZK chapter:
Bowling, eating spaghetti, and painting—what do these things Bowling for Rhinos (top); spaghetti dinner (right); Salt Creek River
have in common? They’re all things some of our animal care cleanup (left); Trees for You and Me planting (bottom).
specialists do, as part of their membership in the American Association of Zoo
Keepers (AAZK), to help animals around the world! Follow Brookfield AAZK on Facebook!
/BrookfieldAAZK
AAZK is a national organization
that fosters professional
development for animal
care specialists and helps
fund conservation initiatives
across America and around the
world. Brookfield Zoo’s AAZK
chapter is one of the largest
and most successful chapters of
this organization.

Brookfield Zoo’s AAZK chapter
participates in many national and
long-running fundraisers, such as
Bowling for Rhinos, a bowling event
that directly raises money for rhino
protection in Africa, and Trees for You
and Me, which provides funding for
tree-planting in areas that have been
devastated by deforestation.

Members also are constantly
thinking about new ways they can
raise money for important causes—in 2018, Brookfield Zoo’s AAZK chapter
hosted two brand-new events. In February, Pints & Paints for Pangolins featured
artwork (both by animals and humans) for auction, along with an art class where
participants made their own pangolin painting, all while sipping adult beverages.
This event raised more than $3,500 for pangolin conservation abroad. And also
for the first time, Brookfield Zoo’s AAZK members hosted ghost tours through
the zoo in October, helping guests have a delightfully spooky time during the
Halloween season (tours cost $5 and proceeds went directly to covering our
chapter’s operating costs).

Other annual events include a spaghetti dinner, elephant trivia, and Salt Creek
cleanup. For more information about Brookfield Zoo’s AAZK chapter and to get
information on its upcoming events, visit BrookfieldAAZK.org.

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