22q at the Zoo will kick off in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 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 syndromes.
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 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
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Adelaide – TBD
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For more information visit here.
Gold Coast Queensland – TBD
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Ipswich -TBD
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Melbourne – TBD
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Perth – TBD
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Sydney – TBD
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Rio De Janeiro – TBD
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Toronto
Name of Zoo: Toronto Zoo
Hosted by:
Hospital for Sick Children: SickKids 22q DS Cinic
The University Health Network TGH: Dalglish Clinic for Adults with 22q11 DS
Santiago – TBD
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TBD
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TBD
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Girardot – TBD
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Copenhagen – TBD
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For more information visit here.
Givskud – TBD
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Ahtari – TBD
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Meri-Karvia – TBD
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Ranua – TBD
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TBD
Dublin – TBD
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For more information visit here.
Cork – TBD
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Tokyo – TBD
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For more information visit here.
Nagano – TBD
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Kaunas – TBD
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Emmen – TBD
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Visit here for more information: Stichting Steun 22Q11
Auckland – TBD
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Warsaw – TBD
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Livingston – TBD
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Belgrade – TBD
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Barcelona – TBD
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Johannesburg – TBD
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Port Elizabeth – TBD
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Seoul – TBD
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Ockero – TBD
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Kaoshiung – TBD
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Taipei – TBD
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Phucket – TBD
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Montgomery, AL
Name of Zoo: Montgomery Zoo
Coordinator Name: Stacy
Email: jsnkotila@gmail.com
Tuscaloosa, AL – TBD
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Little Rock, AR – TBD
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Phoenix, AZ
Name of Zoo: Phoenix Zoo
Coordinator Name: Leigh Ann
Email: Mrsfinchy@gmail.com
Fresno, CA
Name of Zoo: Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Coordinator Name: Megan
Email: jonmegan_wright@hotmail.com
Oakland, CA
Name of Zoo: Oakland Zoo
Coordinator Name: Allison
Email: allisoneprine@gmail.com
Orange, CA
Name of Zoo: OC Zoo
Coordinator Name: Nancy
Email: info@22qties.org
Visit 22qties for more information
Sacramento, CA
Name of Zoo: Sacramento Zoo
Coordinator Name: Silvia
Email: scmolina@ucdavis.edu
San Diego, CA
Name of Zoo: TBD
Coordinator Name: Livia
Email: liviabenjamin@gmail.com
Denver, CO – TBD
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Bridgeport, CT
Name of Zoo: Beardsley Zoo
Coordinator Name: Jessica
Email: carterj519@gmail.com
Wilmington, DE -TBD
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Boca Raton, FL
Name of Location: Sugar Sand Park, Pavilions 2 and 3 @ 10:30
Coordinator Name: Nicole
Email: betteryou101@gmail.com
Date: May 13, 2023
Melbourne, FL
Nemours Children’s Hospital 22q Center
Name of Zoo: Brevard Zoo
Coordinator Name: Yeraldi
Email: yeraldi.geronimo@nemours.org
Tampa, FL
Name of Zoo: Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Coordinator Names: Maria & Tarra
Email: 22qtampa@gmail.com
Atlanta, GA
Name of Zoo: Zoo Atlanta
Coordinator: Sid & Gabriella
Email: 22q11study@emory.edu
Visit here for more information.
Oahu, HI – TBD
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Boise, Idaho – TBD
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Des Moines, IA – TBD
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Chicago, IL – TBD
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South Bend, IN – TBD
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Evansville, IN – TBD
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Wichita, KS – TBD
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Louisville, KY – TBD
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Baton Rouge, LA
Name of Zoo: Baton Rouge Zoo
Coordinator Name: Ginger Moses
Email: Ginger.moses@la.gov
Visit here for more information.
Shreveport, LA
Name of Zoo: Jubilee Zoo
Coordinator Name: DeAngela
Email: pmhnp_bc2019@mindingmindsla.com
Ann Arbor, MI – TBD
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Detroit, MI – TBD
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Grand Rapids, MI – TBD
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Wallace, MI – TBD
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St. Paul, MN
Name of Zoo: Como Zoo
Coordinator Name and Email:
Tasha – tashawestlund@hotmail.com
Amy – akebriaei@gmail.com
Minneapolis, MN – TBD
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Kansas City, MO – TBD
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Visit Angels with Missing Pieces for more information
St. Louis, MO
Name of Zoo: St. Louis Zoo
Coordinator Name: Deb Yost
Email: daylaw1@aol.com
Tupelo, MS – TBD
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Billings, MT – TBD
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Asheboro, NC
Name of Zoo: North Carolina Zoo
Coordinator Names and Emails:
Bethany: Osbornbethany@gmail.com
Season: seasonmichelle@hotmail.com
Lincoln, NE
Name of Zoo: Lincoln Children’s Zoo
Coordinator Name: Anne
Email: astalker2009@live.com
Paramus, NJ – TBD
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West Orange, NJ
Name of Zoo: Turtle Back Zoo
Coordinator Names and Emails:
Jeannette Wesseldyke –Wesseldj@sjhmc.org
Ashley Marchese-Fiallos – marchesa@sjhmc.org
Las Vegas, NV – TBD
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Niagara Falls, NY
Name of Zoo: Aquarium of Niagara
Coordinator Name: Nadine
Email: vcfsbuffalo@yahoo.com
New York, NY
Name of Zoo: Bronx Zoo
Coordinator Name: Daniella
Email: daniella.miller@einsteinmed.edu
Syracuse, NY – TBD
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Email: maggie@thehurnes.com
Cincinnati, OH
Name of Zoo: Cincinnati Zoo
Coordinator Names:
Amy: amymbyers@gmail.com
Ashley: riceeashley@gmail.com
Cleveland, OH
Name of Zoo: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Coordinator Name: Christine
Email: msChristineCJones@gmail.com
Columbus, OH
Name of Zoo: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Coordinator Name: Danielle Slack
Email: Danielle.slack@nationwidechildrens.org
Oklahoma City, OK – TBD
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Tulsa, OK – TBD
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Portland, OR – TBD
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Halifax, PA
Name of Zoo: Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
Coordinator Name: Claire Jones
Email: cljones5@geisinger.edu
Philadelphia, PA
Name of Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo
Coordinator Name: Carol
Email: info@22q.org
Pittsburgh, PA – TBD
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Greenville, SC – TBD
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Columbia, SC
Name of Zoo: Riverbanks Zoo
Coordinator Name: Angela
Email: MrsAngelaLynnJones@gmail.com
Sioux Falls, SD
Name of Zoo: Great Plains Zoo
Coordinator Name: Katie Burns
Email: Kaitlyn.Burns@sanfordhealth.org
Chattanooga, TN – TBD
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Knoxville, TN – TBD
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Nashville, TN – TBD
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Abilene, TX
Name of Zoo: May Farm
Coordinator Name: Sarah
Email: sarah@22qtexas.org
Austin, TX – TBD
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Beaumont, TX
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name: T’wana
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, TX – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name: Suzi and Cheryl
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
Houston, TX
Name of Zoo: McDonald Farm
Coordinator Names and Emails:
Krystal – krystal@22qtexas.org
Rotceh(Roxy) – jrpena2123@yahoo.com
Rio Grand Valley, TX – TBD
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San Antonio, TX
Name of Location: Morgan Wonderland
Coordinator Name: Sue
Email: wemet4@aol.com
Central, TX (Waco/Temple/Kileen) – TBD
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Salt Lake City, UT
Name of Zoo: Hogle Zoo
Coordinator Name: Joy Palmer
Email: awesomejoy2@gmail.com
Northern WV/Pittsburgh, PA
Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
Coordinator Name: Jamie
Email: Jamiebernardi117@gmail.com
Richmond, VA
Name of Zoo: Richmond Metro Zoo
Coordinator Names and Emails:
Amy House – houseam@vcu.edu
Hannah Johnson – johnsonhl5@vcu.edu
Visit here for more information, please take note event will be Saturday May 20, 2023
Washington, DC – TBD
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Seattle, WA
Name of Zoo: Woodland Park Zoo
Coordinator Name: Natalie Robinson
Email: Natalie.robinson@seattlechildrens.org
Milwaukee, WI – TBD
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