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FOSAZ is a nonprofit corporation organized to develop financial support, growth and community awareness for the Santa Ana Zoo.

The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo (FOSAZ) is the non-profit organization that handles the fundraising for the Zoo. It manages the Zoo's membership program, gift shop, rentals, rides and events in order to raise funds for Zoo improvements and animal care and also writes grants and provides public relations and marketing for the Zoo.

The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo was founded in 1972 by a group of volunteers who bonded with the common goal of enhancing the Zoo's services and providing financial support for the needs of the animals. The organization received official tax-exempt status in September 1975, and the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo was born. The organization's first fundraising effort was the installation of the farm feed machines.

Over the following years, FOSAZ took on added responsibilities at the Zoo. The Friends began to coordinate and sponsor Zoo special events, manage the Zoo gift shop, manage the membership and adoption programs, provide public relations and marketing for the Zoo, manage the Zoo's website, and raise funds for Zoo improvements and animal acquisitions. They also brought in, manage, and run the Zoo’s three rides: "Zoofari Express” Train Ride, the Conservation Carrousel, and the Fifty Monkey Ferris Wheel. The Friends have raised and provided funding for Amazon's Edge, the $4.5 million dollar Crean Family Children's Farm, the Colors of the Amazon Aviary, the $1.2 million dollar Tierra de las Pampas Exhibit, and raised the roof on a variety of primate exhibits. The Friends also fund items that are not included in the City budget such as tree-trimming, medical equipment, staff development and animal enrichment materials.

Through the above fundraising efforts, Friends of Santa Ana Zoo has been able to support and improve the Zoo for over 50 years.

The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo supports the following conservation programs: Santa Ana Zoo Annual Report

FOSAZ Reinvestment in the Zoo

What FOSAZ Means to the Santa Ana Zoo: 2023

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