Little Rock Zoo: Little Rock Zoo Gets $3M Trust, Largest Donation in Its History

The Little Rock Zoo and the Arkansas Zoological Foundation announced Monday that Jayne Jackson, an animal and zoo lover who died Dec. 17, established a trust for the zoo valued at nearly $3 million.The trust is the largest donation in the zoo's 90-year history.Arkansas Zoological Foundation Chair Lisa Buehler said in a news release that the Zoo Foundation is grateful for Jackson's generosity and thankful for the gift."Jayne Jackson connected with animals and found a way to connect with the Little Rock Zoo forever by establishing this generous endowment fund," Buehler said. "The Arkansas Zoological Foundation thanks Mrs. Jackson for this overwhelmingly generous contribution. The establishment of this endowment provides much-needed funding for the zoo now and in the future. Jayne has certainly left her mark."The trust establishes an endowment fund called the Jayne and Fletcher Jackson Foundation. It benefits the nonprofit Arkansas Zoological Foundation, which raises money for the growth and development of the Little Rock Zoo.Jayne Jackson was born in Little Rock and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She worked for the U.S. attorney's office and as a jury clerk for the U.S. District Court in Little Rock, according to the zoo.