Nine-year-old Haley McCormick recently surprised Brit Spaugh Zoo Director Scott Gregory with a donation for the zoo.
“She had a birthday party for her class and instead of presents asked for money for the zoo,” Gregory said. Haley and her fellow third graders ending up giving $130 to the zoo and $25 to the Golden Belt Humane Society.
Luke McCormick, Haley’s dad, said she came up with the idea on her own.
“She said she did not want birthday presents this year,” Luke said. “She likes the zoo and she likes animals.”
Gregory was said the money will go into the Great Bend Zoological Society account, where it will be used to help the zoo. As a reward for her generosity, Haley was allowed to submit a list of names for one of the new grizzly bears at the zoo.
The Zoo Society will name the bears, but not until their gender has been determined.
Girl gives birthday gifts to zoo