As a visitor, donor, volunteer, Director Emeritus, and LionHearts Society member, Laurie Stewart has always found ways of showing and sharing her love for Woodland Park Zoo. This passion and desire to give back was cultivated from a young age. Some of Laurie’s earliest memories from growing up in Washington are of visiting Woodland Park Zoo with her grandparents and great-grandparents. Her great-grandfather, an avid gardener, helped her appreciate the gardens and green spaces of the zoo, and throughout her life Laurie has seen Woodland Park Zoo as an oasis in our urban landscape.

“We have a gem in the middle of our city that we need to appreciate – not just as amusement or entertainment, but also for the fact that it’s a beautiful park. We need to help people understand that they can also learn from their time in the zoo – and not just kids! Adults can learn from the keepers, displays, and the time they spend there. I would encourage everybody to find a find an opportunity to visit the zoo.”

The lifelong memories, wonder and sense of discovery, and the connections she made with the animals spurred Laurie to remain connected with the zoo through her childhood, in college, and beyond. 

Throughout her career at Sound Community Bank, Laurie has made it her mission to inspire everyone to give back to their communities and learn the skills of savvy philanthropy. Laurie is proud of Sound Community Bank’s employee donation matching program, as well as their employee-advised corporate giving. Introducing more people to the ins and outs of philanthropy is a key part of her own commitment to giving back.

“When we become philanthropists, we try and think about how we give in different ways. Philanthropy is something you have to learn. It’s a part of my core values that I’ve always felt strongly about.” 

As part of her personal philanthropy, Laurie has included Woodland Park Zoo in her estate plans. By becoming a LionHearts Society member, Laurie is helping to build a sustainable future for the zoo – a future that preserves the gardens, supports the protection of wildlife and wild places, and inspires everyone to get involved with the oasis in the heart of the city. 

“If you’re thinking about leaving a legacy, that legacy can manifest in many ways. But an important way you can make a difference is to give an estate gift to the zoo because you’re sustaining an organization that’s already served many generations and will go on to serve many more.”

And if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the zoo in a while, Laure has some advice: “Just put your shoes on and go.”