Submitted by Samil Baker
Phyllis and Larry Wojciechowski.
The Birmingham Zoo received its first endowed gift for conservation from Phyllis and Larry Wojciechowski to name the Phyllaris Fund at the Birmingham Zoo. The Phyllaris Fund will support the Birmingham Zoo’s Passion into Conservation Action (PiCA) program that awards grants to zoo staff members in support of conservation projects and worldwide research.
After retiring for the second time in 2003, Larry and his wife, Phyllis, moved to Birmingham from Michigan and Arizona and quickly became involved in the community. Following an event at the Birmingham Zoo, they were touched when meeting and talking to various zoo animal care professionals.
“We were captivated by the care and passion they [Animal Care Professionals] have for what they do at the Zoo every day,” said the Wojciechowskis.
The zoo’s animal care professionals, as well as staff from all departments, are passionate about the wellbeing of animals in their care as well as wildlife and wild places. The zoo’s PiCA program was created to support not only conservation, but also the professional development and passion of the zoo’s employees.
The zoo’s PiCA Program and Conservation and Manager, Terra Manasco, said, “It has been one of the most satisfying things of my entire career to watch my fellow employees pursue their interests, expand their professional skill sets and get the zoo out in the field making a direct impact on conservation. These are truly passion projects and staff demonstrates that enthusiasm on daily basis as they share their stories from the field with our guests.”
Founded at the Birmingham Zoo in 2012, PiCA is a grant program that encourages zoo employees to participate in projects that support the conservation of species at local, regional and international levels. The PiCA grant facilitates these conservation projects by awarding any full-time employee in good standing the opportunity to research the conservation of wildlife species and habitats. All project research must benefit conservation, the Birmingham Zoo and the employee’s professional development.
The Wojciechowskis wanted to establish an endowed gift that would provide income to the Birmingham Zoo’s PiCA program annually. These funds will support grant awards to zoo employees participating in the PiCA program.
“We wanted to ensure that Birmingham Zoo employees will be able to fulfill their passion and research of the natural world. We are so fortunate to be able to make this gift to the Zoo’s PiCA program and to be able to see our legacy in action,” said the Wojciechowskis.
The Phyllaris Fund endowment is the first of its kind received by the Birmingham Zoo.
President & CEO of the Birmingham Zoo, Chris Pfefferkorn, is honored by the Wojciechowskis’ immense philanthropic gift to the zoo. He said, “With this generous gift by the Wojciechowskis, the PiCA program will continue to have a direct, positive impact on our efforts toward the conservation of species, further the zoo’s mission, and support our staff’s professional development. We are deeply grateful for the impactful support of Larry and Phyllis.”
Submitted by Samil Baker
