Supporting What’s Special

Como Friends donors Erin and Matt Wach have made a commitment to investing in the open-door policy that serves nearly 2 million visitors every year

Erin and Matt Wach were a young couple facing a tight job market when they first discovered the magic of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s free admission policy.

“We were just out of graduate school, unemployed, and coming to Como was like a really great date that we didn’t have to plan for, or worry about,” says Erin. “It was a way to have fun, and feel calm, without facing any financial barriers. I think Como helped us through that time.”

Today, Erin is a marketing executive and Matt is a regulatory attorney, but memories of those early days inspired them to become supporters of Como Friends. Together, they’re part of a diverse community of donors whose generosity makes a difference every day at Como, providing the extra resources the historic Como Zoo and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory need each year to provide cutting-edge animal care, to create gorgeous public gardens, and to offer visitors unforgettable encounters with nature—all for free. In preparation for Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s biggest day of philanthropic giving, we talked with Erin and Matt about why they’ve made Como Friends a priority in their giving portfolio for more than a decade.

Tell us your own Como story: Did you visit as a kid? What brings you to Como now?

Erin: I grew up in the western suburbs, but my mom was from St. Paul and she and my grandmother always brought me here. My grandma loved the plants, my mom loved the animals, and coming to Como makes it easy to get a little bit of both.

Matt: We had nothing like this in Iowa, where I grew up. It wasn’t until I came to St. Paul for college that I started visiting regularly. I lived very close, in the Energy Park neighborhood, and it was a good place to come to get away from the hustle and bustle of school and work. Now Como has become a place where we take family and friends when they come to visit, because there are so many things to experience here, and there are no financial barriers to visiting.

Como Friends supporters often get the chance to take part in sneak peek experiences to learn more about animals and plants. Have you taken advantage of any of those opportunities, and what have you learned in the process?

Erin: Going to member preview events and fundraisers like Sunset Affair has been awesome because you get more exposure to things that you might not see during the day when the crowds are here. How often do you get to spend time in a room with gorillas, and literally just have them watching you eat your dinner? And if you bring your friends, it’s kind of like having your own private party, which has been really cool. The unique nature of those experiences definitely inspires us to support Como.

I’ve also learned so many interesting things, like all of the work it takes to hand pollinate vanilla beans to bring vanilla extract to our kitchens. And how the penguins have such different personalities and get grumpy with each other. Also, through Como Friends’ newsletter and social media I’m always learning cool stuff about animals and plants, or about the conservation work that goes on behind the scenes at Como, like the education team that just went to the Galapagos Islands.

Many people wait until later in life to make a real financial commitment to the nonprofits they care about. Why have you chosen to make that commitment now as younger people?

Erin: It’s an opportunity to set up that family tradition, and creating memories around a place you care about. Como is something really special you can share with your family, and by contributing to it, we’re able to see it grow.

Matt: We’ve been on both ends of the financial spectrum, and I think appreciating where we’re at now is the reason we give back. At Como, there truly is no financial barrier to entry, anyone can come here on any day and enjoy it. I understand the feeling of walking through the doors without cash to donate. That’s why I believe it’s essential to contribute, ensuring that Como remains free and accessible to everyone.

What’s your pitch? Why do you think people should support Como Friends on Give to the Max Day?

Erin: One thing we really love about Como is that it’s got animals and plants—you can enjoy both on the same trip. But another thing that’s important to us is the work of Como Friends. It means that there’s this whole organization dedicated to helping the people at Como doing their jobs in the best way they can, taking great care of animals and plants, and making it more accessible to everyone. Como Friends does a great job of showing supporters where their dollars go, which is pretty unique for such a big place. I think it’s exciting to learn about programs like Nature Walk, or to learn from zookeepers who’ve just come back from an amazing conservation trip, and to know that your support helped to make that happen.

Choose

Watch Video

This year, you can help choose the name of Como Zoo’s new baby nyala, born in September. Vote for your favorite name when you make a Give to the Max Day gift to Como Friends!

Pick your favorite name—Harvey, Stanford, or Walter—and vote by selecting your choice on the donation form.