The newest addition to the St. Louis Zoo got a lift this week from Jack and Susan Taylor, who are donating $1 million to the Zoo on behalf of the entire Taylor family. Taylor is the founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Jo Ann Taylor Kindle, president of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, announced the donation at the 10th annual Marlin Perkins Society dinner, where the Taylor family, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation and other longtime supporters of the St. Louis Zoo were honored with the St. Louis Zoo Award. The family's donation has been earmarked to fund what will be known as Taylor Family Puffin Bay. 
"This gift to the St. Louis Zoo is a way for our family to show our support not only for the Zoo, but also for the St. Louis community and the many institutions that make it unique," said Kindle. "As life-long St. Louisans, we strongly believe in giving back to the community that has given so much to us."
Taylor Family Puffin Bay will be a major part of the Zoo's next new exhibit, Penguin & Puffin Coast. When completed, this one-of-a-kind polar exhibit will feature two domed indoor rockscapes, one for puffins (beautiful oceanic birds from the North), and Lichtenstein Penguin Cove, featuring birds from the South. Both will depict a rugged naturalistic coastline with underwater viewing of these skillful swimmers. An outdoor exhibit will house the endangered Humboldt penguins.
"The St. Louis Zoo is a world-class zoological park that is recognized internationally for its extensive animal conservation efforts," said Kindle. "We hope that this gift will inspire others to show their support for the institutions that enhance our city."
The Taylors have been long-time supporters of St. Louis community institutions, and they, along with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, have contributed more than $2.3 million to the St. Louis Zoo's capital campaign over the past five years.
Site work for Penguin & Puffin Coast will begin later this month. The new exhibit should open in 2003. "It has been our dream to bring puffins to our St. Louis Zoo visitors," says Charles H. Hoessle, director of the Zoo. "We know they will fall in love with these delightful birds. Now we will have both puffins and penguins in an exciting coastline exhibit."
Like their penguin counterparts in the southern hemisphere, puffins are black-and-white birds skilled in diving and swimming. They are sometimes known as "sea parrots" or "clowns of the ocean," because of their brightly colored beaks and feet.
Penguin & Puffin Coast is part of the St. Louis Zoo's plan to raise funds for new projects that will immerse visitors in lush, naturalistic habitats and to promote the importance of conservation of wildlife. The Zoo needs to raise $4.2 million by April 1, 2002 in order to secure a Kresge Foundation challenge grant of $1.5 million.
O. Sage Wightman III, chairman of the St. Louis Zoo Foundation and the St. Louis Zoo 2004 capital campaign, says, "The Taylor gift to Penguin & Puffin Coast brings us closer to our $63 million capital goal and meeting The Kresge Foundation challenge. We hope that this magnificent gesture will inspire others to come forward and help us complete our exciting plans for the Zoo and our visitors."
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