We have made donations to several global conservation organizations, participated in community outreach, and provided support to animal care professionals
With your help we have accomplished all aspects of our mission and achieved things we never thought were possible
2025
50th Annual AAZK National Conference
Phoenix AAZK was honored to be the host chapter for the 50th Annual AAZK National Conference, hosted at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. As a culmination of over 4 years of planning and fundraising, we welcomed over 200 animal caretakers to Phoenix for a week of professional development, networking, and fun. We were honored to host and plan such an amazing conference week for all!
AAZK Bowling Bash
In an effort to support both the Bowling for Rhinos conservation fund, as well as final fundraising efforts for the 50th Annual AAZK National Conference, AAZK Bowling Bash pledged a $2,000 donation to support Rhino Conservation, and $6,000 to support animal caretaker professional development. It was another bowling alley buyout and we were so happy to have our community join us!
2024
Zoo Events
Phoenix AAZK was invited to join the Phoenix Zoo at Special Events throughout the year, including Earth Day, monthly Roars and Pours and more. AAZK chapter officers and members were able to educate zoo guests about the association and our mission, and raise money for supporting conservation.
AAZK Social
Phoenix AAZK hosted a Spring kickoff to welcome new members and to network with other animal care specialists from around the Valley. Over 50 members of the animal care community joined us for a night of networking!
2023
Our 17th annual Bowling for Rhinos was a great success thanks to all of you!! With your help, we were able to donate a total of $8,145.32 directly to rhino conservation! We couldn’t do this without your support, and we can’t wait for next year!!
Odysea Conservation Expo
Reaching nearly 6,000 guests, PCAAZK hosted a table at the yearly Odysea Conservation Expo. Members played animal trivia with guests at the event, shared the mission of AAZK, and the encouraged all to learn the role we have in conservation day to day.
2022
Bowling for Rhinos 2022
Bowling for Rhinos 2022 was the 16th year that the Phoenix Chapter of AAZK has hosted the event, and once again it was a great success thanks to everyones support. In total, our chapter raised nearly $12,000 this year that is directly donated to rhino conservation efforts. We can’t thank everyone enough who helped to make this night amazing!
National Zookeeper Week
In celebration of the hard work, passion, and commitment that animal care professionals show each day, PCAAZK gifted reusable tote bags to each animal care professional at the Phoenix Zoo and Odysea Aquarium as an expression of our appreciation for their hard work! Thank you for what you do, the person you are, and the difference you make!
Online Auction
Conference fundraising has officially begun! This year, our online auction raised nearly $2,300 that will go directly to hosting the National AAZK conference in Phoenix in 2025! This year’s auction featured animal art, concert tickets, behind the scenes experiences and more!
2021
Bowling for Rhinos
Bowling for Rhinos 2021 was back and better than ever! The bowling alley SOLD OUT, and a chapter record of nearly $13,000 was raised for rhino conservation! Thank you to everyone for supporting our biggest event of the year, and we can’t wait to see you all next year!
2020
2019
bEErs for Bears
2018
Drone for hornbill conservation
Marisa Boyd and Bryan MacAulay traveled to Malaysia in March 2018 to continue their project of helping to conserve Borneo's wild hornbills. Their project is continuing into its second year but now with the addition of a $1,000 DJI Mavic Pro drone that was generously donated by the AAZK Phoenix Chapter. The drone proved to be invaluable to the field crew and changed the way surveys for hornbill nest cavities are done. Traditionally, a climber would be sent up, sometimes as high as 100 feet into the rainforest canopy and can take more than an hour to complete for a single cavity. The drone dramatically reduced the amount of time and manpower needed to survey these cavities. One of the significant contributions of the drone during its inaugural year was the discovery of an active Wreathed Hornbill nest, the first discovery of its kind in all of Borneo. Marisa and Bryan have applied for grants to fund additional drone units for the 2019 field season to further their conservation efforts. PCAAZK’s donation was the catalyst for many great things to come.
Online Auction
Our annual auction, usually used as our main fundraiser for the year, was so successful that we were able to donate $600 to Colobus Conservation Limited. CCL is an organization in Kenya that promotes the conservation, preservation and protection of primates. Our donation helped them build new facilities for their expanding program. This was our most successful auction to date, thanks to all of the generous donations.
Beers for Bears
A fun and simple event like Beers for Bears allowed us to donate $360 to the Andean Bear Foundation, a small organization that is working to prevent the extinction of the Andean Bear and its environment through research, conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation. We had a great turn out at OHSO in Arcadia.
Bowling for rhinos
By far the largest event of the year, Bowling for Rhinos is a long and important tradition put on by AAZK chapters all over the country. All funds raised through this event go directly to organizations dedicated to the rapidly declining population of rhinos and their habitats. This year we set the bar high by intending to fill an entire bowling alley and raffling more than a hundred items! We exceeded our goals and were able to raise $10,615.68! That is our largest donation in the history of the Phoenix AAZK chapter. Together, with the help of all the other AAZK chapters, $566,716.94 went to rhino conservation this year.