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Great Ape Trust of Iowa recently raised $1 million from a variety of sources. The process began with a $250,000 grant from the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Foundation. Great Ape Trust photo.
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Des Moines, Iowa – April 25, 2008 – Great Ape Trust of Iowa has raised $1 million through a variety of fund-raising and revenue initiatives, a process that began with a $250,000 gift from the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Foundation.
The Blank gift was announced two years ago at the annual gala of Bravo Greater Des Moines. Bravo, a nonprofit group committed to strengthening the arts and cultural organizations in Iowa’s capital city and surrounding suburbs, was given the responsibility to liquidate the $5.1 million remaining in the Blank Foundation. Great Ape Trust was among 14 nonprofit groups receiving gifts from the fund.
Great Ape Trust Operations Director Jim Aipperspach said the effort underscores how important it is for a nonprofit group organized under Chapter 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code, as Great Ape Trust is, to establish a diversified base of financial support. Great Ape Trust Founder Ted Townsend has been the primary financial benefactor in the scientific research center’s first six years of existence.
“Great Ape Trust would not be in the prominent position it is today without Ted’s generosity, but our future success depends on our ability to develop funding sources that complement his support,” Aipperspach said. “New sources of funding should help us leverage Ted’s efforts and achieve our mission for years to come.”
The Blanks were longtime Des Moines philanthropists who made their fortune in the movie theater industry. They contributed greatly to the cultural landscape of Des Moines and Iowa, leaving their mark with a zoo, hospital, golf course, and countless contributions to the arts, health care and education. Jacqueline Blank died in 2002, Myron Blank in 2005.
Myron Blank once said of his family’s generosity to Des Moines and the surrounding areas: “It’s a friendly community. We all appreciate what everybody does.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a scientific research facility in southeast Des Moines dedicated to understanding the origins and future of culture, language, tools and intelligence. When completed, Great Ape Trust will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans – for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.
Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and is certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). |
Great Ape Trust is certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums
