Diane Smith, the wife of FedEx founder Fred Smith, donated $50 million to the Memphis Zoo, the zoo announced in a July 28 post to social media.
The donation from the Smith family is the largest philanthropic investment in the zoo's history and marks "a bold new chapter" for the zoo, the announcement said.
"This challenge is more than a gift," the zoo's statement read. "It's an invitation for our entire community to help create a world-class home for wildlife through enhanced animal care, conservation, immersive habitats, and unforgettable guest experiences."
The gift is structured as a matching challenge, meant to encourage an additional $50 million in philanthropic
support, according to a page on the zoo's website dedicated to the challenge. The investments will be used to create new habitats, advance animal care and conservation, expand educational opportunities, and "enhance the guest experience for generations to come," according to the zoo.
“As a mother to ten children and grandmother to more than thirty-five grandchildren, the Zoo has always been a special, memorable place for us," Smith said in a statement on the zoo's website. "My family and I are honored to have played a role so that other families can enjoy this incredible Memphis gem for generations to come."
The Smith family is a longtime supporter of the Memphis Zoo.
The gift will help launch the first phase of the zoo's "comprehensive campus plan," which will begin with a reimagined Africa exhibit.
Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jack.armstrong@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @jca2902.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Smith family $50M donation marks 'bold new chapter' for Memphis Zoo
