News and Stories

Hoffman gift fuels Zoo’s commitment to conservation and animal excellence 

CINCINNATI, OH (September 3, 2025) – Today, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden celebrated a monumental $60 million gift from the estate of the late Hugh Hoffman. The sizeable donation will be used to kickstart the Zoo’s Impact Fund and allow the Cincinnati icon to continue its mission to provide world-class animal care, advance local and global conservation efforts, inspire future generations through education, and offer an oasis of wonder and wellness in the heart of the city.   

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“This generous gift from Hugh, a cherished friend and passionate advocate for wildlife, is more than a donation—it’s a launchpad for A Wilder Tomorrow” said Thane Maynard, Cincinnati Zoo Director. “His investment in our future allows the Zoo to remain a place where families learn, wildlife thrives, and nature is protected.  Hugh believed deeply in leaving a legacy of stewardship.  Thanks to him, the Zoo can continue to play a critical role in nurturing curiosity, compassion, and community.” 

According to Hoffman’s great niece, Zoe Bullock, his love of discovery began in his hometown of Cincinnati, where childhood visits to the Zoo opened his eyes to the beauty and diversity of the natural world. That spark grew into a lifetime of travel, where he embraced new cultures, landscapes and wildlife with genuine curiosity and respect.   

“Hugh believed deeply in the power of connection-between people, nature, and ideas-and shared that passion through stories, books and experiences that inspired those around him.  His extraordinary gift to the Cincinnati Zoo ensures that future generations will have the same opportunities to explore, learn, and be moved by the wonders of the natural world, carrying forward his vision of a place where people and wildlife can thrive together,” said Zoe Bullock. 

His nephew, Steve Bullock, echoed this sentiment and added that his Uncle Hugh loved learning about and exploring the natural world. “He loved the city of Cincinnati and its people. As he traveled around the world, his most frequent garb and sign of civic pride was his Cincinnati Reds baseball cap. Hugh’s generous gift to Cincinnati Zoo is a beautiful representation of his love for all three of these . . . and our family is so pleased with the Zoo’s extensive plans for this gift,” said Steve Bullock. 

The Zoo’s Impact Fund, which is more about building impact than building buildings, will enhance community partnerships and empower local and global communities to embrace coexistence with wildlife.  It will bolster the animal excellence program and accelerate future animal habitats and gardens. It will enable the Zoo to realize its vision for A Wilder Tomorrow. 

Over the next five years, the Zoo will add a new immersive habitat for a herd of giraffes twice the size of the current one, a new Mexican wolf habitat, where visitors will learn about the heroic story of their recovery, and bring rhinos back to the Zoo.  It also plans to create a Children’s Garden, a one-of-a-kind playscape, designed by kids, for kids.  The vision goes beyond brick and mortar as the Zoo plans to expand its global Fellowship program under its new name – the Hoffman Coexistence Impact Fellowship Program in honor of Hugh’s love for traveling to learn from international communities. 

“I was lucky enough to travel with Hugh on a number of Zoo trips,” said Maynard.  “In the 90s we went to Kenya and later to Egypt, as well as other locales.  He was a very experienced traveler and a curious and quiet man.  But one thing is for sure, Hugh loved nature and wanted his money to be used to support the exact kind of work that we do.” 

 “We invite the community to dream with us and to invest in a future where people and wildlife thrive,” said Maynard. “With generous partners and passionate supporters, the possibilities are as vast as the wild places we are working to protect.  “It’s not just about building something today. It’s about tomorrow. It’s about our wilder tomorrow.” 

If you are interested in learning more about the Cincinnati Zoo’s vision for the future, visit www.cincinnatizoo.org.  Donate today for A Wilder Tomorrow.