Brookfield Zoo Chicago to honor four conservation changemakers at 23rd annual Conservation Leadership Awards Dinner
Annual celebration on October 5 will recognize leaders advancing wildlife conservation
while raising critical funds to support conservation efforts locally and around the world
Brookfield, IL—Brookfield Zoo Chicago will honor extraordinary conservation changemakers whose leadership, innovation and commitment are helping create a better future for wildlife and wild places at its 23rd annual Conservation Leadership Awards Dinner.
The October 5 event at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago brings together conservation leaders, philanthropists, business and community leaders, and Zoo supporters for an evening celebrating the people and partnerships driving meaningful conservation progress. Proceeds from the event support Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s mission to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people to wildlife and nature.
“This evening is about more than recognizing extraordinary conservation leaders; it’s about bringing people together around the work that matters,” said Ann Grant, vice president of development at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. “Our honorees remind us that conservation takes many forms—from groundbreaking science and wildlife protection to philanthropy and partnerships that make lasting progress possible. By coming together and celebrating their accomplishments, we also highlight the role each of us can play in creating a future where wildlife thrives.”
A special fireside chat will bring Brookfield Zoo Chicago President and CEO Dr. Michael Adkesson together with Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Society and a 2026 Conservation Leadership Award honoree. Following the presentation of the awards, the two conservation leaders will share stories and insights from their work advancing animal welfare and conservation, offering guests an opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing wildlife and how compassion can inspire conservation action.
The George B. Rabb Conservation Medal, the evening’s most prestigious recognition, will be presented to Dr. Ganzert prior to the fireside chat. Since 2010, Dr. Ganzert has expanded the organization’s global impact through innovative animal welfare programs spanning agriculture, film and entertainment, zoos, aquariums, conservation organizations and ecotourism. Under her leadership, American Humane Society has become the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping oversee the care of more than one billion animals annually and advancing humane standards that benefit animals around the globe.
Kelsey Prediger, founder and executive director of the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation (PCRF), will receive the Rising Conservation Leader Award for her pioneering efforts to protect one of the world’s most threatened mammals. As the only in-field researcher dedicated exclusively to pangolins, Kelsey leads an integrated conservation program combines field research, rescue and rehabilitation, community-led protection, law enforcement training and more to combat wildlife trafficking and build a stronger future for pangolin conservation.
The Edith Rockefeller McCormick Partnership Award will be presented to the Gerald A. & Karen A. Kolschowsky Foundation for its longstanding commitment to expanding access to wildlife and nature. For nearly a decade, the Foundation has served as a lead supporter of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Zoo Adventure Passport (ZAP!) program, helping thousands of children and families experience the Zoo while removing barriers to participation and fostering meaningful connections to wildlife and conservation.
The Corwith Hamill Lifetime Achievement Conservation Award will be presented to Marcena W. Love and family in recognition of more than six decades of leadership, philanthropy and service to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Marcie is an active champion for the Zoo’s mission through her service on the Society Leadership Council and support of the Next Century Plan. Along with Mike Love’s decades of service as a Trustee and the family’s continued commitment to advancing the Zoo’s conservation initiatives, the Love family’s legacy demonstrates how a lifelong connection to wildlife can inspire generations of conservation leadership.
Together, this year’s honorees represent the many ways conservation advances—from scientific discovery and animal welfare leadership to philanthropy, education and community engagement. Their work reflects a shared belief that meaningful conservation progress is only possible through collaboration, compassion and a commitment to wildlife and wild places.
Established in 2005 by the Zoo’s Board of Trustees, the Conservation Leadership Awards honor the lifelong legacy of George Rabb, Ph.D., president emeritus of the Zoo. His vision and leadership helped redefine the role of modern zoos in global conservation, inspiring new generations of scientists, advocates and supporters to take action. Over the past 23 years, the event has raised more than $8 million to support conservation, education and animal care initiatives that advance Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s mission. Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information are available at brookfieldzoo.org/conservation-leadership-awards.
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Media Note: Journalists interested in covering this year’s event or interview opportunities with honorees should contact Zoo PR Director Julianne Olivo in advance at julianne.olivo@brookfieldzoo.org or 708-688-8351.Photos from the 2025 award dinner are available for download here, with credit to “© Brookfield Zoo Chicago” for media use only.
About Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Connect. Care. Conserve.
Since 1934, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a global leader in animal well-being and conservation, inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Zoo is a private nonprofit organization that operates on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species—including many of Earth’s most endangered. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be Humane Certified™ by the American Humane Society for the care and welfare of its animals, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and ArbNet. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org or follow @BrookfieldZoo on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Threads.
