The mission of the Suzette D. Shelmire Children's Education Endowment at the Dallas Zoo is to ensure that every child, regardless of economic background or ability to pay, will have the opportunity to participate in children's education programs at the Dallas Zoo.
Suzette's love of animals started as a young girl in East Texas, growing up surrounded by dogs and horses. Falling in love with the Dallas Zoo was a natural extension of her overall love of animals and wildlife of all kinds, especially primates and birds. Suzette loves working with young people and sharing her passion for wildlife and the environment with children of all ages.
For over 20 years, Suzette Shelmire was a fixture and icon at the Dallas Zoo. Beginning in the mid-1960s, Suzette volunteered at the zoo as a docent in the baby animal nursery and taught visiting school classes about wildlife and the environment. She also served on the board of the Dallas Zoological Society.
In 1987, Suzette decided to work for the zoo full time as a professional "zoo educator." She became the Children's Zoo Coordinator where she created the zoo's first children's volunteer program called "Junior Zookeeper" (now "Zoo Crew"). At the time it was the largest junior volunteer program at a zoo in the country. Young volunteers were able to care for animals and greet and educate the public on their visits to the Children's Zoo. Junior Zookeepers were also able to learn about the animals they cared for, environmental impacts on wildlife, make friendships with young people who shared their interests, and enjoy behind-the-scenes tours.
Participating in today's zoo education programs and camps such as Stroller Buddies, Thursday/Friday Safari, Wildlife Heroes Club, Zoo Crew, Zoo Corps, Wild Adventure Camps, and Animal Adventure Outreach costs money. The zoo must charge fees to participants in order to defray these costs. Suzette often discounted children's zoo education program fees for families that could not afford for their children to participate. Her generosity and understanding allowed countless children to join zoo programs that would otherwise be financially out of their reach.
Today and for generations to come the Suzette D. Shelmire Children's Education Endowment at the Dallas Zoo will ensure that every child, regardless of economic background or ability to pay, will have the opportunity to participate in children's education programs at the Dallas Zoo.
Donors will receive an acknowledgment for their gift by mail which can be used for tax purposes.
Donate by check: Checks may be mailed to:
ETCF fbo Suzette D. Shelmire Children's Education Endowment at the Dallas Zoo
315 N. Broadway, Suite 210
Tyler, TX 75702
Make the check payable to East Texas Communities Foundation and write “Shelmire Zoo Fund” on the memo line
Donate by ACH bank draft:
Donations by bank draft can be made by CLICKING HERE and selecting the Suzette D. Shelmire Children's Education Endowment at the Dallas Zoo from the drop-down menu in the upper left-hand corner of the form. You can type Suzette in the search bar of the drop-down menu and the fund name will appear.
Please call the East Texas Communities Foundation at 866-533-3823 if you need help.
Donate by credit card:
Complete the form below and click submit.
