Bronx, NY – Nov. 14, 2011 – On Wednesday, November 16, Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia Greene will join officials from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and children from PS 205 at the Bronx Zoo’s Dancing Crane Café to kick-off Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.’s holiday toy drive.
In honor of the start of the holiday season, school children from PS 205 will be on hand to donate the first toys of the year.
Who: Deputy Bronx Borough President Aurelia GreeneJohn Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public AffairsSchool children from PS205
What: Kick-off event for the Borough President’s Annual Toy Drive
Where: WCS’s Bronx Zoo2300 Southern Blvd.Bronx, NY
When: Wednesday, November 16, 201110:30 am – 11:30 am
The partnership between the Bronx Zoo and the Borough President on the toy drive has become an annual tradition. The Bronx Zoo will serve as a collection point for new, unwrapped toys donated by members of the community. Toys will be collected through the end of December and will be distributed by the Borough President’s office to underprivileged members of the community.
WCS is partnering with City Harvest to collect food for underprivileged New Yorkers. Food collected from food drive helps provide nutritious meals every day to people in New York City who turn to food assistance programs. City Harvest needs a variety of canned, packaged and nonperishable foods to feed people in need. Some of the most-needed foods include canned fruit, canned vegetables, peanut butter (plastic jars), macaroni and cheese (packaged), hot and cold cereal (packaged, family-size).*
In appreciation for their generosity, those who make a qualifying donation of a new, unwrapped toy and/or ten food items at the Bronx Zoo between Saturday, Nov. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 31 will receive a free ticket to the Bronx Zoo.
From Saturday, November 19 through Saturday December 31, the zoos will collect toys for underprivileged children. Visitors can bring their new, unwrapped toys to designated drop-off points at each of the WCS parks for distribution by the Borough President’s office.
The Wildlife Conservation Society would like to thank the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Bronx Toys for their generosity and support of the toy and food drives.
MEDIA NOTE(S): Media who wish to attend the event should contact Max Pulsinelli 718-220-5182 or Steve Fairchild 718-220-5189 so that parking and park transportation can be arranged.
*City Harvest cannot accept: unlabeled or dented cans, any open packaging, products that need to be refrigerated, homemade foods, or expired products.
** Disclaimer: One general admission ticket to the Bronx Zoo will be provided for a donation of one new, unwrapped toy OR for every 10 food items at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo or Queens Zoo. Food items must be canned, packaged and/or nonperishable foods — perishable items are not permitted. All WCS decisions final. For details on donation food items go to wcs.org/foodtoydrive. Promotion available from 11/19/11–12/31/11. May not be combined with any other offer.
Contact:Max Pulsinelli: (o) 718-220-5182 (m) 571-218-7601; mpulsinelli@wcs.orgSteve Fairchild: (o) 718-220-5189 (m) 914-263-8179; sfairchild@wcs.org
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. www.wcs.org.
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