AT&T Makes Contribution to Lowry Park Zoo and 'Teens 4 Tampa Bay'

From Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo:

Students from Van Buren Middle School will be working with Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo to protect Florida’s endangered wildlife and other natural resources, thanks to a contribution from AT&T to create the Zoo’s Teens4TampaBay (T4TB) program.

The contribution of $25,000 will support the program, an after-school science club at Van Buren that will inspire teens to become agents of change for the environment and their communities.

Starting in September, students will participate in hands-on learning about the challenges Florida wildlife faces and about ways they can make a positive impact in their communities. Teens will learn about topics such as Florida’s biodiversity, the impact people have on the environment and how to protect and preserve natural resources. Club members will be recruited across all science classes at Van Buren to participate in the after-school program.

“We are thrilled to have received this contribution from AT&T for the Teens4TampaBay program, which we believe will give these young science students a sense of empowerment, and turn them into lifelong advocates for the environment,” said Mark G. Haney, Vice President of Advancement at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. “We can’t wait to start working with them.”

In its first year, the project will center on the Zoo’s Whooping Cranes, and the recently renovated Florida Aviary. Whooping Cranes are one of the 10 Signature S.A.F.E (Saving Animals From Extinction) species selected by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. These birds rely on wetland habitats just north of the Tampa Bay Community in which these students live. Students will develop a holistic understanding of how their actions affect our environment, and how humans and animals depend on wetlands and other natural resources.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we’ve passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.

About Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in conservation, education, recreation and research. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is featured among the “Top 25 Zoos in the U.S” by TripAdvisor (2015). The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48) and is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours for special events. Parking is free. For more, visit here or call (813) 935-8552. Also find the Zoo on Facebook and Twitter.

Images via Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo