Des Moines, Iowa – The Blank Foundation of Des Moines has presented Great Ape Trust of Iowa a gift of $250,000. Great Ape Trust and 14 other organizations in the Des Moines area received $5.1 million this month from the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Foundation.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Blank family for this generous gift,” says Ted Townsend, founder and chairman of Great Ape Trust. “We will use these funds to educate the community about great apes and the dedicated scientists who study their intelligence and behavior.”

Great Ape Trust officials will initiate a fundraising campaign this spring to match the donation with an additional $750,000.

Great Ape Trust of Iowa is located five miles southeast of downtown Des Moines on 230 acres of lowlands, riverine forest and lakes. When completed, Great Ape Trust will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans – for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.

For more information, contact:
Al Setka
Director of Communications
Great Ape Trust of Iowa
4200 S.E. 44th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 243-3580
515.720.7430 (cell)
asetka@greatapetrust.org

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