Jackson Zoo Welcomes Thrivent Financial Living Generously Service Day on May 11th
Thrivent Financial Services in the Jackson Metro will be showing support for the Jackson Zoo on Saturday, May 11th, with a Living Generously day of service. Along with volunteering, the not-for-profit financial membership organization is donating thousands of dollars in materials to the nearly 100-year-old park to help with annual “curb appeal” projects.
Financial Consultant Josh Jones, FIC, RICP®, BFA™ of Thrivent Financial, reached out to the Jackson Zoo staff in April, expressing the desire of Thrivent Financial’s members to not only volunteer, but also donate goods to complete some much needed park tasks: refreshing the turf of the two playground areas inside the zoo, and replacing the colorful flags at the Capitol Street entrance. Thrivent Financial has purchased 400 bags of natural mulch from Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in Jackson and Ridgeland, and ten 4’X6’ outdoor flags from A Complete Flag Source in Jackson to replace the original flags hung in 2013. A Complete Flag Source will be donating the flag hanging service on Friday, May 10th, so that the fresh colors will greet the Thrivent volunteers. In addition, approximately thirty employees and members of Thrivent Financial will be gathering at Jackson Zoo Admissions at 9 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, May 11th, to help distribute the mulch, with the assistance of the regular Zoo Crew Landscaping volunteers.
“The Jackson Zoo staff is so grateful for this kind of multi-level donation,” said David L. Wetzel, Interim Zoo Director. “There are many projects where we have wonderful people ready to get in there and help with their time, but not enough resources. Thrivent’s gift of services AND goods lifts some of the weight off the small staff on two fronts, which makes a huge difference to what we can accomplish in a day.”
Started over one hundred years ago in Appleton, Wisconsin, Thrivent Financial is a financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously, offering its more than two million member-owners a broad range of products, services, and guidance from financial representatives nationwide. It has helped members make wise money choices that reflect their values, while providing them opportunities to demonstrate their generosity where they live, work, and worship. Thrivent Financial is listed at #318 on the Fortune 500, named as one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere Magazine, and has donated more than 15.4M volunteer hours and $280M in financial relief to non-profits and disaster relief all over the world.
The Jackson Zoo is the oldest zoological park in the state of Mississippi, started in 2019, and its daily operation relies on funds from daily admissions and membership, as well as the local, county, and state levels of government. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Christmas Day, and his home to over 360 animals representing species all over the world. All media is invited out to talk to representatives from both the Jackson Zoo and Thrivent Financial, who will be on hand to make statements during the volunteer hours.
