Meet the
Bowens
For many years, East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) has sought to expand our efforts toward preserving and protecting wildlife while creating best practices in animal wellness, conservation, sustainability and education. For three decades, we have stood up for the interconnected fates of people, animals and habitats, primarily through the work at our first campus, Brevard Zoo.
In our journey to grow, building an aquarium with a dedicated mission of conducting vital research and educating guests about our invaluable local waterbodies was a natural next step. However, after a million dollars in state funding was vetoed, we saw our dream delayed. That’s when we met the Bowens.
After reading in the newspaper that vital money had been vetoed, they showed up on our doorstep with a check for a million dollars and said, “We want to see you go plan that aquarium.” That was the start of an incredible relationship.
“Just like we have answered the call for the community for years, the Bowens came to answer our call,” said East Coast Zoological Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Keith Winston.
John and Pat Bowen are involved long-time members of Brevard Zoo, and upon their first visit, they fell in love with our mission, felt a connection with our animals and were impressed by our conservation efforts. They are also dedicated community members of Brevard County and consider it their favorite place in the world. They wanted to give back to this special place they call home, and they felt investing in our Zoo and Aquarium was the very best way to do that. They offered the very first check toward the Our Legacy Campaign, the $100 million effort toward building our Aquarium and became our founding donors.
“Meeting with the Bowens, they’re the most amazing, down-to-earth people,” said Keith. “They’re humble and quiet, but then you discover what they’ve done in the world, and it’s just incredible.”
As dedicated members of the Brevard community for decades, they saw the benefits of having our Aquarium’s important conservation work making tangible impacts every day. After their initial one-million-dollar gift, the Bowen’s contributions have grown exponentially with millions of additional dollars, becoming the bedrock of our financial base to build the aquarium. By naming the Aquarium after them, we are able to truly celebrate their generosity, their legacy and who they are, which we feel represents the best of mankind.
People leave legacies in many different ways. Through the good deeds they do, through their friends and family, and the people they invest in. The Bowens have earned merits in all of those categories in their naturally unassuming way, but now they’re adding the extraordinary legacy of our Aquarium. A place that will be an economic driver for the Central Florida community, a place that will educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, a place that will be a lifeline for endangered wildlife and a lighthouse for the Indian River Lagoon.
They see their gift as a “thank you” to Brevard County and the Zoo community, both of which they love very deeply. In honor of their incredible gifts, we are proud to return the “thank you” by naming our Aquarium after them.
We are so excited to introduce the world to Bowen Aquarium. The Our Legacy Campaign is still working to raise the $100 million needed to fund the creation of the Aquarium and ensure continued support for Brevard Zoo operations and growth. If you’d like to help us reach our goal, learn more here.
