The Omaha Zoo Foundation supports the mission, research and programs benefitting Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Omaha Zoo Foundations efforts are focused on the following three funding programs: I. Endowment - OZF is responsible for building and managing an endowment to secure the future of Omahas Zoo. Pate, who joined the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in 2009, was elected to the position last October. Surprise! It was a gift from Xalapa, Omahas sister city in Mexico, and its called El Rey, meaning The King.. Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to all of Madagascar's remaining lemur species. The worlds first test-tube tiger was born at the Zoo. about GuideStar Pro. And Omaha and the whole state have benefited.. For 12 years, these reforestation efforts have been focused on providing habitat for lemurs, the most threatened group of primates in the world. Scott said as he looks to Omahas future, he remains bullish. New bongo and new tree kangaroo exhibits were constructed. A city is always an unfinished project, Scott said, so we keep looking for new opportunities to improve Omaha. At 89, hes looking forward to stepping up the philanthropic work of his own charitable foundation. Read More . We are really good at public-private partnerships in Omaha, Ashford told him. TITLE . 2011 Dave Heineman; Mayor Jim Suttle; Garry Gernandt, Omaha City Council, District 4; and Dennis Pate, the Zoo's executive director and CEO. 2010 Scott once gave a blunt, matter-of-fact response when asked about Heritages control requirements, saying those seeking financial help who dont like the conditions can go somewhere else.. He said he doesnt know if theres ever been a civic leader in Omaha quite like Scott. The African Grasslands features breathtaking panoramic views of grasslands and African wildlife. Two Harbor Seals joined the Sea Lions at Owen Sea Lion Shores in May. Ive always wanted to do something for veterans, Scott said repeatedly. The first phase of the Zoo was dedicated to Henry Doorly. Zoo, Zoological Society (D50) IRS filing requirement. Dr. Padilla received his doctoratein veterinary medicine from Cornell University. Omaha Children's Museum Board of Directors Board President Dana Washington Dana has been serving on the Omaha Children's Museum Board since 2020. They include former Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, the state's longest-serving lawmaker and the only one so far to be termed out twice. He talks about the vision and gets everyone quite interested in it, and then hes able to see what needs to be done, focus on it and execute it. Doorlys Pride, a heroic bronze sculpture of a pride of 12 lions, was installed in the entry plaza area. Wall Street gains; Warren Buffett cuts investments in banks. Seeing a good thing, Scott and the others decided to keep their new creation going. One official likened it to "a damn grass fire.". The first digital conservation issue of the Zoo's newsletter, ZooPrints, is published. 1894 A visit to Omahas Zoo and Aquarium is a transformational experience that connects people to animals and wild places. This digital means of communication promotes new exhibits, events and other Zoo news using static images and videos. Henry is a general assignment reporter, but his specialty is deep dives into state issues and public policy. Omahas Zoo & Aquarium announces Luis Padilla,DVM Dipl. This $33-million campaign enhanced the visitor experience with the addition and improvement of the following guest amenities: The African Grasslands is a $73-million project that spans 28 acres and is the largest project undertaken in the Zoo's history. 1895 Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium's mission is to inspire, educate and engage people to serve as lifelong stewards for the conservation of animals and their habitats. I think an important metric of any city is how it treats its most vulnerable, he said. It also showcases the conservation work Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium dedicates to Madagascar. The exhibit is made up of a variety of habitats, interactive animal exhibits and climbing areas allowing guests to learn through exploring. How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve? This project includes new restrooms, concessions and ADA accessible pathways. Dr. Padilla will succeed Dennis Pate after his retirement in late 2022. Omaha Zoo Foundation does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability: Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that. Gateway to the Wild was included in Phase 1 of the Master Plan. Please subscribe to keep reading. Meeting via Zoom in the midst of a pandemic, on Tuesday Walter Scott hosted his last meeting as chairman of Heritage Services. COVID-19 or not, he had no interest in a big recognition dinner or any such feting. It incorporates visitor experiences and amenities, state-of-the-art animal habitats that reflect the latest husbandry knowledge, and a place to instruct the next generation of wildlife biologists. The Zoo hosted a traveling white alligator exhibit. The locally grown TD Ameritrade is being sold to the Charles Schwab Corp. TD Ameritrade has had a growing presence in Omaha, with its new Old Mill-area headquarters and corporate sponsorship of TD Ameritrade Park. Meet the NSTA Leadership | NSTA We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc. Dr. Padilla is currently the Vice President of Animal Collections for the Saint Louis Zoo, where he is responsible for the overall oversight of the Saint Louis Zoos Animal Division, including the animal collection, facilities and the animal care teams. How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve? Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Sue Morris, who as longtime president and chief executive of Heritage has had primary day-to-day oversight over its projects, says Heritage always looks to maximize donor investments by negotiating to pay as little as possible for construction and other services. In 2017, Bass Pro bought Cabela's and consolidated corporate operations at the Bass Pro headquarters in Missouri, dealing a significant economic blow to Sidney. You have permission to edit this article. ), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded. But there were too many projects on the Heritage drawing board that he wanted to see through. He doesnt come in and hammer the table, said Mike Yanney, an Omaha financier who served with Scott for decades on the Heritage board. He and the rest of Nebraskas congressional delegation needed to get the bill passed. And that, too, proved to be an adventure. Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium opened Childrens Adventure Trails in June 2017. Those dollars helped sell city voters on the $281 million project. We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback. Construction began on the Lozier IMAX Theater. Opening in the late summer and one acre in size, Owen Sea Lion Shores provides Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquariums Sea Lions with a state-of-the-art habitat featuring a 275-thousand-gallon pool, 40-foot-long underwater viewing window, natural boundaries, an underwater kelp forest and sandy beach areas. A new Guest Services building and two additional gates at the main entrance opened. In 2016 Pate was instrumental in bringing elephants back to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, which has led to two elephant calves born this year. Ultimately, nearly everything will go to the foundation, with the hopes it will benefit my hometown for many generations to come.. As the Zoo continues to grow, so does the continuous need to maintain and improve roads, pathways, utilities and other building support. The Walter Scott Family Foundation has grown considerably in the last decade, from a staff of zero to 14. Glacier Bay Landing opened to the public in the spring. Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium held Ghouls and Glow, a fun and not-so-frightening Halloween event for all ages. In July, the Zoo also opened the Robert B. Daugherty Education Center, which provides educational space to more than 9,000 students annually, including the Zoos full-time high school, kindergarten and after-school programs. Shelli Herman & Associates Recruits New President and CEO for Omaha's 1985 A ribbon cutting was held to officially kick off its opening to the public. Those projects have helped transform the city, said Paul Landow, the chief of staff to former Mayor Mike Fahey, who worked with Scott and Heritage on the ballpark and arts projects. omaha zoological society henry doorly zoo the henry doorly zoo omaha zoo the omaha zoo omaha-zoo-engagement-session-0001.jpg Henry Doorly Zoo Global Presence Search All Employees Henry Doorly Zoo CEO 1973 City activists declared "An idea to create the largest zoological garden in the United States. Dr. Padilla's first day at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will be Nov. 14. Previously, Tina was a Board Member at Spielbound. Charity Report - Omaha Zoo Foundation - Better Business Bureau Many, but not all, projects Scott has been involved with have also utilized Kiewit as the construction contractor. It was a culmination of everything good about Omaha.. The Master Plan provides for a dedicated service path around the Zoo with access to animal holding areas that leave the sidewalks to our guests and addresses steep walkways. Sign in. In August, the 1916 public swimming pool that had been buried in 1944, and rediscovered in 1970, was reconstructed and became the Owen Sea Lion Pavilion, complete with a new concession building, public restrooms and a gazebo. Creighton University basketball became a hot ticket. I was assistant Director of the Omaha Marathon for 2 years and Director for 8 years. Click here for more information. Over the last 40 years, nearly $400 million has been raised to build state-of-the-art animal, visitor, and medical/research facilities. I doubt you ever vote for Democrats, Ashford told him. The Walter Scott Family Foundation lists over $1 billion in assets. The most up-to-date policies, guidelines and committee charters are available on the Governance page. In early 2021, Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Autism Action Partnership launched a free all-inclusive mobile app experience, Omaha Zoo 4 All, to help prepare, engage and inspire visitors with autism or sensory needs, as well as their families. This milestone more than doubled its attendance in 2019 and well eclipsed the previous record of 246,500 set during the Wildlife Safari Parks inaugural 1998 season. Pate created and completed a 10-year master plan which consisted of improved guest services and amenities, and state-of-the-art exhibits including: Scott African Grasslands, Asian Highlands, Bay Family Childrens Adventure Trails, the Daugherty Education Center, Owen Sea Lion Shores, Glacier Bay Landing, Alaskan Adventure Splash grounds, Stingray Beach and the Harper Event Center. Kansas City Zoo director Randy Wisthoff to step down in 2021 | The It also includes five new outpatient operating suites, specialty clinics, a new radiology center and the capacity to serve an additional 400 veterans daily. Omaha Zoo Foundation Names New Executive Director A study found that there would be savings of roughly $250,000 a year to have the state operate the plan. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway continues to grow, with 389,000 employees in all its various subsidiaries. On Friday, the new President and CEO of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium introduced himself during a press conference. A new nonprofit called Veterans Ambulatory Care Center LLC was created, run by Heritage. The Walter and Suzanne Scott Kingdoms of the Seas Aquarium opened and the Zoo had more than 1.6 million visitors. He has changed the face of Omaha, Susie Buffett said of Walter Scott. For example, Scott had insisted as part of Heritages support of the new arena and ballpark that they be operated as a nonprofit business by the newly created Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA). That was in part due to the fact the VAs limited annual construction budget was being sucked up by other ongoing projects around the country, including a hospital in Denver that took 14 years to build and cost $1.4 billion more than it was supposed to. New cat and bear exhibits were built by WPA. If this is the way to get it done, I say thank you very much, Gold said. 1988 In the time I have left, Im trying my best to invest in Omaha as intelligently as possible.. Kiewit is building a new headquarters in Omaha's North Downtown, next to the company's existing training center. Even as it cuts employees, Union Pacific's annual profits have grown from nearly $5.2 billion in 2015 to just short of $6 billion in 2019, according to Fortune. But Heritage officials held to their insistence that if the project was going to go forward with Omaha donor money, Heritage would be in charge. The plan was for the new organization to run a joint fundraising drive toward upgrading facilities at both cultural institutions. The result of the conversation was the incorporation of what the men named the Heritage Joslyn Foundation, with Scott as its leader. While some outsiders might view money as the prime asset Scott brings to the table, those who have served with him on the organizations board say its his leadership. He also serves as an accreditation commissioner for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Zoo received the prestigious AAZPA Bean Award for its long-term gaur propagation efforts. Nebraska is one of biggest recipients of this federal loan program. At the time, VA administrators had long recognized the agencys Omaha hospital as one of the most outdated and inadequate in the entire VA system. Brads our guy on this, Scott succinctly told the president. Dennis Pate announced his intention to retire this past February after 48 years working in zoos, 14 of those years in Omaha. The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick. A new permanent home for Stingrays at Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium opened at the beginning of April. 2017 And Scott-tied projects frequently contract with Tetrad, a development company co-founded by Scotts son, David, to oversee construction. They eventually changed its name to Heritage Services, reflecting the enduring role they hoped it would play in Omaha. In the early 2000s, Heritage revamped Omahas performing arts facilities, too, raising $108 million to renovate the Orpheum and construct the Holland Center. It is recommitting to Omaha with a new headquartersin the Heartwood Preserve development at 150th Street and West Dodge Road. Scott rarely reveals the amount of his charitable contributions or even acknowledges giving to a project. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium President and CEO, Dennis Pate, has announced his intention to retire early next year after 47 years working in zoos, 13 of those years in Omaha. This will be located adjacent to the existing carousel area on the site formally occupied by bears, swan valley and points north. We are hyperconscious of our responsibility to develop projects in an ethical manner and to be good stewards of donor money, Scott said. The Ak-sar-ben waterfall was constructed. Click here for more information. Daugherty and Strauss likewise were titans in both business and philanthropy in Omaha Strauss as the retired chairman of natural gas company Internorth, Daugherty as the founder of irrigation equipment manufacturer Valmont Industries. The Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, 22 miles west of Omahas Zoo at Nebraskas 1-80 Exit 426, opened. And while Scott will be playing a less direct role in shaping Omahas future, its not likely there will be any curtailment in the personal charitable giving of the man whose family wealth Forbes recently pegged at $5 billion. Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. Under the agreement Heritage inked with the city, the taxpayer-backed bonds would not be issued until Heritage certified it had raised the $75 million. Hubbard Orangutan Forest, the best view in the Zoo, opened in two phases in May and August. There would not be a new VA without Walter Scott, Ashford said. New sea lion exhibit surrounding a North American coastal-themed childrens splash zone and play area. He has been associated with the zoo for more than half a century. 2006 There is an extensive use of grasses, acacia-like trees, kopjes and minimal visual barriers and includes twenty-five new buildings and structures. 2003 Scott said the board of his foundation held a retreat five years ago and made plans to continue its work long after he is gone. That had been underscored by an economic consultant in the late 1990s who concluded that if the Plains city known for its strong work ethic didnt learn to kick off its shoes and have more fun, it would struggle to compete for workers in the new millennium. But would you be willing to meet with the president?. Compared to other states, Nebraska has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the federal Paycheck Protection Program. In fact, theres evidence that as Scott turns more attention to his family foundation, it could be stepping up its role here including long after he is gone. He also said the contractors Heritage works with know they face exacting standards, and actually risk losing money if they dont deliver the project on time and on budget. Thats a pricey venture for any city, one whose costs are frequently completely borne by taxpayers. He said he has no financial stake in his sons company, either, and notes both firms have proven records and are in high demand to handle building projects all across the nation. And from the start, Scott has been Heritages unquestioned leader. Please direct your email correspondence to the Board Chair at: chair@trifaith.org About Staff Board of Directors Executive Committee Joe Gerstandt, Chair Rick MacInnes, First Vice Chair The Lied Jungle, the worlds largest indoor rainforest at that time and Durham's TreeTops Restaurant and Education Center opened. The Zoo is currently investigating how the cheetah got out of its primary enclosure. to get more GuideStar Nonprofit Profile data today! The austere Berkshire headquarters in Omaha is growing, too, adding a second floor for its 26 office employees as the company extends its office lease at 36th and Farnam Streets. Robb Pantano Shareholder, Financial Advisor, Renaissance Financial. Scott and the other Heritage leaders are concerned about making Omaha an appealing place to live so it can attract the workforce it needs to compete, grow and thrive. Her term began on June 1, 2022, and concludes on June 1, 2023. "She was absolutely amazing," former Omaha Mayor Mike Boyle said.