Impact Report by The Cleveland Zoological Society sponsored by the McGregor Foundation
Shared by Carly Kallicragas, Director of Foundation & Community Relations, Cleveland Zoological Society
“We are incredibly grateful to The McGregor Foundation for making the inaugural Senior Plus Wild Walk & Talk possible. Designed as a new member experience specifically for our Senior Plus community, the program created an opportunity for older adults (ages 55 and up) to be active outdoors, deepen their connection to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, learn directly from Zoo Society staff and volunteers, and connect with new friends in a welcoming setting.”
“The response was tremendous. Approximately 115 Senior Plus members participated and registration filled within 24 hours of being posted, demonstrating a strong appetite for programs designed specifically for this important part of our membership community.
Following the event, we invited participants to share their feedback so we could measure the impact of the program and use their input to shape future Senior Plus experiences. We received 61 responses to the survey.”
(Left to Right) Carly Kallicragas, Director of Foundation & Community Relations at Cleveland Zoo Society; Andrea Ponikvar, VP of Philanthropy at Cleveland Zoo Society; Tara Ragen, VP of Community Impact at McGregor Foundation; Isabel Rodriguez, Marketing Representative at McGregor PACE; and Robert Loechler, Marketing Marketing Representative at McGregor PACE.
Responses from First Event
“Participants rated their overall experience an average of 4.17 out of 5, reflecting a highly positive response to the inaugural event.
Even more encouraging was the response to the question, “How interested would you be in attending other programs like this designed specifically for Senior Plus members?” Participants gave this an average rating of 4.59 out of 5.
This level of interest strongly reinforces what we hoped to learn through this pilot: Senior Plus members value opportunities to experience the Zoo in new ways, alongside their peers, and they are eager for more programming created specifically with them in mind.
Connecting Members to Wildlife, Nature, the Zoo – and Each Other!
The Wild Walk & Talk successfully advanced several of the goals established for the program:
- 89.83% of respondents said they enjoyed being active and walking.
- 88.14% said they enjoyed spending time outdoors.
- 55.93% discovered something new about the Zoo’s mission and/or McGregor Foundation programs.
- 62.71% appreciated the opportunity to spend time with Zoo Society staff.
- 27.12% said they met or connected with a new friend.
What Did We Learn?
“The strongest opportunity identified through the survey was also a very positive one: the
event attracted more people than we anticipated.”
Looking Ahead
“The success of the first Senior Plus Wild Walk & Talk gives us an exciting foundation for
future programming. We heard very clearly that Senior Plus members want more
opportunities like this, and we are grateful to the McGregor Foundation for helping us test
and launch the concept, ” Carly shared.
“As we plan the next event, we would also love to explore deeper collaboration with the
McGregor Foundation’s marketing team. We see an opportunity to work together earlier in
the process on messaging, audience engagement, storytelling and promotion so that we
can maximize the visibility and impact of the partnership.”
Thank You!
“We are sincerely grateful to The McGregor Foundation for investing in this new experience
for our Senior Plus members. Your support allowed us to create a program that brought
people together, encouraged physical activity and time outdoors, expanded members’
knowledge of wildlife and the Zoo, and provided a new way for longtime members to
experience the organization they care about. 16 participants specifically reported making a
new connection with a fellow member.”
“The overwhelmingly positive response gives us tremendous encouragement as we look
toward what’s next. We look forward to building on this success together.”
Carly Kallicragas, Director of Foundation & Community Relations, at Cleveland Zoological Society
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