December 5, 2011

TOYOTA SPONSORS "TOYOTA ELEPHANT PASSAGE" EXHIBIT AT DENVER ZOO
Multimillion Dollar Sponsorship Completes Private Match for 1999 Bond

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Zoo President/CEO Craig Piper announced a multimillion dollar partnership between the zoo and regional Toyota dealers to sponsor the zoo's new 10-acre exhibit for Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinos and Malayan Tapirs. Toyota's generous support completes the zoo's campaign to raise private matching funds for the zoo improvement bond program overwhelmingly supported by Denver citizens in 1999. The partnership makes Toyota the zoo's official automotive partner and provides the zoo with a title sponsor for the exhibit, which officially has been named Toyota Elephant Passage.

"The Denver Toyota Dealers Association is thrilled to partner with Denver Zoo for Toyota Elephant Passage. Our seven neighborhood Toyota stores strive to enhance the communities where we live and work," shared Go Toyota General Manager and Denver Toyota Dealers Association spokesman Jeff Thorpe. "The Zoo's commitment to conservation and environmental protection align perfectly with Toyota's fuel efficiency goals and the launch of the new Prius family of vehicles. We are thankful and excited for this opportunity," added Thorpe.

"We're thrilled to have Toyota as the title sponsor of our most significant exhibit in Denver Zoo's 115-year history. Toyota's commitment to protecting the environment through their own operations and innovative products makes them a great fit with Denver Zoo's cutting edge work in global conservation and sustainable business practices," noted Denver Zoo President/CEO Craig Piper. "We're also excited to partner with our seven metro Denver Neighborhood Toyota stores. Each of them has a strong commitment to the community and supports Denver Zoo's efforts to provide outstanding family experiences and educational opportunities. We look forward to the years ahead when our teams will work together to help both people and animals through this exciting partnership."

Toyota Elephant Passage will open to the public June 1, 2012. In the meantime, animal residents have begun to move into the expansive $50 million exhibit. Toyota Elephant Passage also will be home to several new species to the zoo, including fishing cats, small-clawed otters and flying foxes. In addition, Toyota Elephant Passage will bring the return of a favorite zoo species, clouded leopards.

Seven area Toyota dealers were present when the partnership was announced on December 5 as zoo staff unveiled the new name of the exhibit by unrolling a large banner revealing the new name to numerous supporters of the project. The announcement comes near the two-year anniversary of the zoo's groundbreaking event for the new exhibit on December 2, 2009. Zoo staff surprised then Mayor John Hickenlooper and other city officials that were expecting to formally break ground with a traditional shovel of dirt. The ceremony was interrupted by a front-end loader driving toward dignitaries and guests that turned and flattened an old concession stand to make way for the zoo's bold new exhibit amid the cheers of the crowd.

In 1999, Denver citizens voted to authorize $62.5 million in bond funds for Denver Zoo improvements. Denver Zoo committed to raise an additional $55 million in private donations to provide a total of $117.5 million to complete construction of the first two phases of the zoo's four-phase master plan. This innovative public-private partnership has allowed the zoo to construct a number of improvements including the parking garage, Congo Basin, Lorikeet Adventure, the bird propagation center, the award-winning Predator Ridge exhibit and zoo entrance complex.

"More than three thousand people have donated to make Toyota Elephant Passage a reality. There is still opportunity to support this tremendous project as we continue to raise funds for the innovative biomass gasification system that will power the exhibit and the education and conservation programs associated with Toyota Elephant Passage," says Piper.