For immediate release
Contact: Gina Stiles – 904-757-4463, ext. 210; 904-655-3632 or stilesg@jacksonvillezoo.org

Teddy Bears To Get Free Check-ups
at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Teddy Bear Affair
May 10th  

Sponsored by Nemours Children’s Clinic

April 29, 2008 - Jacksonville, Fl - The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will be hosting its 16th Annual Teddy Bear Affair, sponsored by Nemours, on Saturday, May 10th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Children ages 3-12 who bring their teddy bears or other stuffed animals on that day will receive free admission to the Zoo.

“Injured” teddy bears will receive special treatment by Nemours’ skilled staff and Build-A-Bear Workshop.  There will animal encounters, giveaways, prize drawings, and visits from Jazoo.  Smokey the Bear will also make a special appearance to provide safety information and Radio Disney will be onsite with music and games from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

“We’re very proud to once again partner with the professionals at Nemours, who are dedicated to children’s health and share our goal of offering entertainment alternatives that help educate children in the communities we serve,” said Dennis Pate, executive director of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. 

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  The Zoo is open until 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day. For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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