Long-time Zoo members and volunteers Mark and Pat Westen have a plan for the future.
Mark says, "When we retired, we looked at setting up an estate plan. When you do this, you have to look at what is important to you. We spend a lot of time volunteering at the zoo working in different areas, education, special events, mailings and animal enrichment. As a result, we decided that the Zoological Society should be included in our estate plan."
"We decided to leave money with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee because we feel it is important that the animal species continue to receive proper care and nourishment and we want to help preserve their species." Pat continues. "We found that the Zoo is more than a safe place for the animals; the Zoo has excellent education programs to teach children the importance of understanding its occupants."
Summing it up for both of them, Mark said, "Most people visit the Zoo to see the animals, however when you get more involved, you see that a lot more is going on behind the scenes. When you leave a bequest to the Zoological Society, you are helping to fund an endowment that will help support the goals of the Society — education, conservation and support for the Zoo — well into the future."