On behalf of the Kansas City Zoo, we thank all of you who attended last year's largest fundraiser, Jazzoo 2007.  You played a special role enabling Jazzoo 2007 to raise more than $625,000 and be named the “Best Charitable Event in Kansas City” by Ingram’s Magazine.

Because of you, the money raised from Jazzoo 2007 helped feed hundreds of animals with specially formulated diets designed to meet their nutritional needs.  Jazzoo also helped deliver educational Zoo programs to more than 40,000 children annually.  Jazzoo helped the Kansas City Zoo approach our $1.5 million goal earmarked for our new educational facility, which will begin construction in 2007.

Jazzoo was voted “Best Charitable Event” by Ingram’s magazine in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

250 dedicated volunteers help produce Jazzoo every year.

More than 5,000 guests attend Jazzoo each year.

Approximately 80 Kansas City restaurants participate each year in Jazzoo, providing delicious bites from their special menus.

Jazzoo guests are entertained by continuous live music from local artists on four strategically placed stages around the Zoo.

Guests are welcome to enjoy beverages of all kinds from Jazzoo's 15-20 full and specialty bars.

The Jazzoo Web site, introduced in 2003, is now the most frequent source for individual ticket sales.

Jazzoo has experienced tremendous success in the past and plans to continue for many years to come. Here’s a quick glance of NET fundraising success of the past:

2002: $570,109

2003: $577,308

2004: $595,059

2005: $598,691

2006: $628,955

2007: $656,162

We are grateful for the phenomenal support within Kansas City, including more than 400 Zoo-impassioned volunteers, 275 sponsors and 100 restaurant and beverage partners.

Because of you, Jazzoo has raised nearly $5 million in the past 5 years to help support special programs and operational costs at the Kansas City Zoo.

In The Beginning

Fun, outrageous, and wildly successful, Jazzoo started small and has grown to elephantine proportions over a span of 17 summers. The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri started the ball rolling with a generous gift of $200,000 to begin the Zoo Learning Fund in 1989. The Zoo Learning Fund, established by the League to celebrate its 75th anniversary, is an educational endowment that provides a perpetual source of funds for the creation, design and implementation of educational programs. When the Junior League project ended in May 1993, a total of $600,000 had been raised for the Fund. Jazzoo now involves a community-wide cadre of more than 250 dedicated, Zoo-impassioned volunteers, a passionate chairperson, a Zoo staff coordinator and the efforts of staff Zoo-wide. In 2006, Jazzoo netted $628,955 and drew nearly 5,000 people for a spectacular evening of music and fun. In an agreement with the Zoo Learning Fund, 90% of the proceeds went directly to supporting Zoo exhibits, grounds and operations. Ten percent of the proceeds went to Zoo Learning Fund activities which provide educational programs for more than 40,000 children in the greater Kansas City area.

Back in 1990, no one in Kansas City had yet enjoyed anything like Jazzoo and the event made headlines by breaking every rule in the book. As Jackie Johnson, the first Jazzoo chair remembers, "Everyone said you can't have three different stages and three different bands, but we did". Now Jazzoo has five different stages and five different bands, and is known as the best gala under the stars.

A Little Help From Our Friends

In addition to the Junior League, the following chairs have built the reputation of this one-of-a-kind event:

1990 Jackie Johnson

1991 Julie Clarkson and Dianne Hogerty

1992 Sue Esrey and Cheryl Lockton

1993 Laura Crowe and Kathy Wells

1994 and 1995 Patty Garney and John Palmer

1996 Jennifer Breedlove and Susanne Jantsch

1997 Georgia Buchanan

1998 Carol McTavish and Andrea Presson

1999 Dianne Cleaver and Jackie Johnson

2000 Diane Johnson and Leslie Whitaker

2001 Nicky Deramus Bunch, Jill Deramus Dean, Jean Deramus Wagner and Bob Sullivan, Jr.

2002 Nancy Dillingham and Marianne Kilroy

2003 Laura Greenbaum and Vicki Reisler

2004 Gail Cluen and Gayle Krigel

2005 Kathy Smith

2006 Kathy Smith

2007 Katie Gerson

2008 Rick and Emily Boeshaar

All For Learning and All For Fun

In past years, all the net proceeds of Jazzoo have benefited the Zoo Learning Fund. As of January 1, 2002, the Kansas City Zoo became part of a public/private partnership between the city and the not-for-profit agency, Friends of the Zoo. In 2002, it was voted to split the proceeds in a 90/10 ratio between the Friends of the Zoo and the Zoo Learning Fund.

Where the Money Is

Zoo Learning Fund assets are invested by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and the trustees remain committed to protecting the assets of the fund and ensuring that they are put to the best use possible to strengthen the Zoo and enhance related educational opportunities in our community. Since its beginning, The Zoo Learning Fund has grown to nearly $5,000,000.

Where the Money Goes

The largest and most recent grant the Zoo Learning Fund provided to the Kansas City Zoo is approximately $1.5 million directed toward the Zoo’s Master Plan vision for the Deramus Education Building. Because of inadequate places for teaching, the Zoo has had very limited ability to develop ongoing educational programs and events. This grant will fund the redesign and reallocation of space with the building allowing for expansion of classroom space. It also will allow for expansion of programs that focus on the Zoo’s mission and the animal collection. It will become a highly visible anchor to what promises to be a regional destination for families by bringing together education, entertainment and the Zoo’s living collection. The Zoo’s children’s education programs are funded in part by Jazzoo fundraising efforts. They helped educate 40,210 children in 2006 and will exceed that in 2007.

Remaining funds raised from Jazzoo (90%) go toward operating the Kansas City Zoo, a 202-acre zoological garden featuring rare and endangered species from around the globe. During the past five years, Jazzoo has raised nearly $5 million to help support special programs and operational costs at the Kansas City Zoo. The Kansas City Zoo is a multi-use institution where recreation, learning and wildlife conservation meet in an exciting atmosphere of fun and discovery. The Kansas City Zoo is accredited by the American Zoological Association.

The Kansas City Zoo is staffed by 180 employees and Friends of the Zoo membership currently includes 15,000 Kansas City and regional households. Members participate in a range of volunteer activities in every area of the Zoo, from education to grounds-keeping. The Docent organization has doubled in size and now allows for a much greater interaction with Zoo visitors. Half of the members of the Board of the Directors of Friends of the Zoo live in Kansas and half live in Missouri; additionally, the Board strives to represent the regions diverse African American and Latino populations.

The Kansas City Zoo is not only a learning laboratory for the study of conservation but plays a significant role in global wildlife conservation as an active participant in the American Zoo & Aquarium Associations Species Survival Plans (SSPs) for 23 species of concern throughout the world. The Zoo is home to 900 animals, many of which are threatened or endangered in their natural habitats. In addition to managing a successful captive breeding program here at home, the Zoo also participates in wildlife research and conservation programs around the world.

Kansas City Zoo “NEW” Improvements

Come visit the koalas! A special exhibit March 31- September 4 in the Discovery Barn.

Carousel Café Renovation

Discovery Barn Renovation- Meet our exotic ones, like ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, macaws and squirrel monkeys (temporarily moved to aviary row for the koala exhibit).

A Peekaboo Tree Playhouse- Young children can climb, laugh and play like animals in the wild.

A Promenade Grand Opening- Zoo’s new main street is a short-cut from the main entrance to the elephant watering hole.

Two (2) Sumatran Tigers- 2 of the most beautiful and endangered animals.

A special thanks to all the restaurants and beverage purveyors that are participating at JAZZOO '07!