SPRINGFIELD — Donations to the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center will be matched dollar for dollar through the end of the year, thanks to a commitment from the Anthony M. and Lea Scibelli Charitable Foundation, which has pledged to match gifts up to $20,000, providing critical support during one of the Zoo’s most crucial fundraising periods of the year.

“This time of year, we are overwhelmed and humbled by the number of people who step up and support the zoo, including this incredible matching gift from the Anthony M. and Lea Scibelli Charitable Foundation,” said Sarah Tsitso, executive director of the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center. “Our animals, most of which are vulnerable and unable to survive on their own in the wild, rely on the generosity of their friends in the community to stay safe, happy, and healthy. For our donors, this is a rare opportunity to turn their generosity into something even bigger, doubling their donations through this amazing matching gift.”

Although the zoo is closed to the public from November to March, it remains fully operational all year long. “Because we are a seasonal experience for guests, people often assume we operate seasonally as a zoo as well,” said Gabry Tyson, assistant executive director. “In reality, the work here never stops. For the animals, this is their home, and they remain in their home regardless of the season.”

As a result, the costs associated with daily animal care, such as food, heat, bedding, habitat maintenance, and medical needs continue even when revenue from admissions stops during the winter months.

This matching gift from the Scibelli Foundation aims to lessen that gap, and the zoo is calling on the community to help unlock the full $20,000 match before the end of the year.

The Zoo in Forest Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. A tax-deductible gift to this matching campaign can be made online by clicking here, or via check to Forest Park Zoological Society, P.O. Box 80295, Springfield, MA 01138.