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22q at the Zoo will kick off in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, May 18, 2025 and continue westward at zoos around the world giving families, friends and professionals a chance to socialize, network and raise public awareness of 22q11.2 differences.

Developed by the International 22q11.2 Foundation, volunteers spread awareness at their local or regional zoo, park, playground or aquarium by handing out 22q fact sheets and educating guests and zoo visitors. Participants are recognizable by wearing official “22q at the Zoo” red t-shirts and “Ask Me About 22q” buttons.

Check out pictures from past events and stay up-to-date on the latest news by following our Facebook page!

For ticket information click on your local city or region below.

If there is no coordinator for your location, show up at the entrance to your local zoo, park or playground with a brown bag lunch wearing the official t-shirts (or plain red shirt) and plan to meet others at 11:00 AM. We will add your name and location to the foundation website for other families to reach out to you…

History of 22q at the Zoo – Worldwide Awareness Day

22q at the Zoo – Worldwide Awareness Day launched for the first time on May 22, 2011. Learn more about the History of this event HERE.

Participating Zoos

Buenos Aires – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Gold Coast

Name of Zoo: TBD

Coordinator Name: Maria

Email: president@22q.org.au

For more information visit here.


Melbourne

Name of Zoo: TBD

Coordinator Name: Maria

Email: president@22q.org.au

For more information visit here.


Perth

Name of Zoo: Kings Park

Coordinator Name: Maria

Email: president@22q.org.au

For more information visit here.

Mechelen

Name of Zoo: Zoo Planckendael

Coordinator Name: 

Email: info@22q11.be

For more information visit here.

Rio De Janeiro – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

Toronto

Name of Zoo: Toronto Zoo

Coordinator Name: Rozmin

When: Sunday, June 2, 2024

Santiago – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

Girardot – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Copenhagen

Name of Zoo: Københavns Zoo

Coordinator Name: Anne

Email: anne@fampoulsen.com

For more information visit here.


Givskud 

Name of Zoo: Givskud Zoo

Coordinator Name: Rikke 

Email: rikkeottobroeker@gmail.com

Chester

Name of Zoo: Chester Zoo

Coordinator Name: Paul

Email: 

For more information visit here.


Paignton

Name of Zoo: Paignton Zoo

Coordinator Name: Tracey

Email:

For more information visit here.


Winchester, Hampshire

Name of Zoo: Marwell Zoo

Coordinator Name: Penny

Email: 

For more information visit here.


Gavieside, West Calder

Name of Zoo: Five Sisters Zoo

Coordinator Name: Natasha

Email:

For more information visit here. 

Heisinki

Name of Zoo: Korkeasaari Zoo

Coordinator Name: 

Email:


Meri-Karvia – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email: 


Ranua – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email:

TBD

Dublin 

Name of Zoo: Dublin Zoo

Coordinator Name: Anne

Email: 

For more information visit here. 


Cork 

Name of Zoo: Fota Wildlife Park  

Coordinator Name: Anne

Email: 

For more information visit here. 

Riccione

Name of Zoo: Oltremare Theme Park

Coordinator Name: Maria 

Email: international@aidel22.it 

For more information visit here. 

Tokyo – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

For more information visit here.


Nagano – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email:

Kaunas – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Harderwijk

Name of Zoo: Dolphinarium Harderwijk

Coordinator Name: Hanna

Email: 

When: Sunday May 26, 2024

Visit here for more information.

Hamilton

Name of Zoo: TBD

Coordinator Name: Maria 

Email: president@22q.org.au

Newtownards 

Name of Zoo: Ark Open Farm 

Coordinator Name: Gillian

Email: 

For more information visit here. 

Warsaw – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

Livingston – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email:

Subotica

Name of Zoo: Palić Zoo

Coordinator Name: Vesna

Email: 22qexyu@gmail.com 

For more information visit here. 

Barcelona – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Johannesburg – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Port Elizabeth – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 


Seoul – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Ockero – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Taipei – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Montgomery, AL – TBD 

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Tuscaloosa, AL – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email:  


Little Rock, AR – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email: 


Phoenix, AZ – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Fresno, CA – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Oakland, CA 

Name of Zoo: Oakland Zoo

Coordinator Name: Allison

Email: hello@allisonprine.com

Date of Event: Sunday, June 9th from 10:00AM – 2:00PM

Visit 22q Joy Collective for more information


Orange, CA 

Name of Zoo: Orange County Zoo

Coordinator Name: Nancy 

Email: info@22qties.com

Visit 22qties for more information


Sacramento, CA 

Name of Zoo: Sacramento Zoo

Coordinator Names  & Emails:

Silvia Molina – scmolina@ucdavis.edu

Kathleen Angkustsiri – kangkustsiri@ucdavis.edu


San Diego, CA – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Denver, CO 

Name of Zoo: Denver Zoo

Coordinator Name: 22q Family Foundation

Email: 

Visit here for more information.


Bridgeport, CT 

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Wilmington, DE -TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Boca Raton, FL 

Name of Location: Sugar Sand Park 

Coordinator Name: Nicole

Email: betteryou101@gmail.com

When: May 5, 2024


Melbourne, FL 

Nemours Children’s Hospital 22q Center 

Name of Zoo: Brevard Zoo

Coordinator Name: Yeraldi Geronimo, M.S., CCC-SLP, BE

Email: yeraldi.geronimo@nemours.org


Tampa, FL 

Name of Zoo: Hearts and Dream Ranch and Retreat

Address: 16736 Powerline Road Dade City, FL

Coordinator Names: Maria, Tarra & Taylor

Email: 22qtampa@gmail.com 


Atlanta, GA  

Name of Zoo: Zoo Atlanta 

Coordinator: Sid & Gabrielle

Email: 22q11study@emory.edu

Visit here for more information.


Oahu, HI – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Boise, Idaho – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email: 


Des Moines, IA – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Chicago, IL 

Name of Zoo: Brookville Zoo

Coordinator Name: Jalen Clemmons

Email: jclemmons@luriechildrens.org

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago 


South Bend, IN – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Evansville, IN – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Wichita, KS – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Louisville, KY – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Baton Rouge, LA  

Name of Zoo: Baton Rouge Zoo

Coordinator Name: Ginger

Email: Ginger.moses@la.gov

Visit here for more information.


Shreveport, LA – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Ann Arbor, MI – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Detroit, MI – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Grand Rapids, MI – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email:


Wallace, MI – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


St. Paul, MN 

Name of Zoo: Como Park Zoo

Coordinator Name: Amy 

Email: akebriaei@gmail.com

22q Team at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota


Kansas City, MO 

Name of Zoo: Swope Park in front of Kansas Zoo

Coordinator Name: Heather

Email: heather@amp22q.org

Visit Angels with Missing Pieces for more information


St. Louis, MO 

Name of Zoo: St. Louis Zoo

Coordinator Name: Deb

Email: daylaw1@aol.com


Tupelo, MS – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Billings, MT – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Asheboro, NC 

Name of Zoo: North Carolina Zoo

Coordinator Names & Emails:

Bethany: Osbornbethany@gmail.com 

Season: seasonmichelle@hotmail.com


Lincoln, NE – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


West Orange, NJ 

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 


New York, NY

Name of Zoo: Bronx Zoo

Coordinator Name: Daniella 

Email: daniella.miller@einsteinmed.edu


West New York 

Name of Zoo: Rainbow Roller Rink 

Address: 101 Oliver Street N Tonawanda

Time: 12:00PM – 4:30PM

Coordinator Name: Nadine

Email: vcfsbuffalo@yahoo.com


Cincinnati, OH 

Name of Zoo: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Coordinator Name: Jessica 

Email: Jdiscepoli@gmail.com


Cleveland, OH 

Name of Zoo: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Coordinator Names & Emails:

Christine –  msChristineCJones@gmail.com

Francis – Franny4181@yahoo.com


Columbus, OH 

Name of Zoo: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Coordinator Name: Brittony

Email: brittony.howard@nationwidechildrens.org


Oklahoma City, OK – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Tulsa, OK – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Portland, OR – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email:


Philadelphia, PA 

Name of Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo

Coordinator Name: Carol 

Email: info@22q.org


Pittsburgh, PA 

Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo

Coordinator Name: Jamie 

Email: jamiebernardi117@gmail.com


Greenville, SC  – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email:  


Columbia, SC – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Sioux Falls, SD 

Name of Zoo: Great Plains Zoo

Coordinator Name: Katie

Email: Kaitlyn.Burns@sanfordhealth.org


Chattanooga, TN 

Name of Zoo: Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park

Coordinator Name: Anna 

Email: annacooper685@gmail.com


Knoxville, TN – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 


Nashville, TN – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email:


Abilene, TX 

Name of Zoo: May Farm 

Coordinator Name: Sarah

Email: sarah@22qtexas.org 

Email: contact@22qtexas.org

When: Saturday, May 18th


Austin, TX 

Name of Zoo: Austin Zoo

Coordinator Name: Emily & Deb 

Email: deborah.trejo@kempsmith.com

Email: emily.lewispinnell@gmail.com

Email: contact@22qtexas.org


Beaumont, TX 

Name of Zoo: Gator Country 

Coordinator Name: T’Wana

Email: twana@22qtexas.org

Email: contact@22qtexas.org

When: Saturday, May 18th


Brownsville, TX (Rio Grand Valley)

Name of Zoo: Gladys Porter Zoo

Coordinator Name: Mary

Email: mizmoreno@sbcglobal.net

Email: contact@22qtexas.org


Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, TX 

Name of Zoo: Dallas Zoo

Coordinator Name: Suzi & Cheryl

Email: suzi@22qtexas.org

Email: contact@22qtexas.org


El Paso, TX

Name of Zoo: El Paso Zoo

Coordinator Name: Michelle

Email: s24196455s@gmail.com

Email: contact@22qtexas.org

When: Saturday, May 18th


Houston, TX 

Name of Zoo: Old MacDonald’s Farm (Humble)

Coordinator Name: Krystal & Rotceh

Email: krystal@22qtexas.org

Email: contact@22qtexas.org


San Antonio, TX  

Name of Location: Morgan Wonderland

Coordinator Name:  Sue & Susan 

Email: wemet4@aol.com

Email: susan@22qtexas.org

Email: contact@22qtexas.org


Waco, TX

Name of Location:  Cameron Park Zoo

Coordinator Name:  Mary & Jessica

Email: contact@22qtexas.org


Salt Lake City, UT  – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Northern WV/Pittsburgh, PA 

Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo

Coordinator Name: Jamie 

Email: jamiebernardi117@gmail.com


Richmond, VA – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email:  

Visit here for more information.


Washington, DC – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Seattle, WA 

Name of Zoo: Woodland Park Zoo

Coordinator Name: Joyce

Email: Joyce.Doll@seattleschildrens.org 


Milwaukee, WI 

Name of Zoo: Milwaukee County Zoo

Coordinator Name: Elise

Email: audrey.hohenwatler.fund@gmail.com


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At the International 22q11.2 Foundation we help families that need important resources and information to meet the needs of loved ones with 22q.