Oakland Zoo gets mysterious holiday gift

Just in time for Christmas, the Oakland Zoo received an unexpected surprise: a $1 million donation from an anonymous donor.

Santa Claus, anyone? Who else provides mysterious gifts this time of year?

The San Francisco Foundation sent a check to the zoo under the condition of not revealing the giver.

Zoo leaders are more than grateful for the gift, but feel amiss at not being able to send a thank-you card.

“We always want to make the best effort to promptly and properly acknowledge all gifts, and we were eager to know who to thank for this extreme generosity," said Emma Lee Twitchell, the zoo’s director of development. "There is no more important time than the end of the year for nonprofit organizations to reach out to the community for support and encouragement in meeting the needs. This contribution will have a huge impact on our ability to plan for the New Year.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2012/12/oakland-zoo-opens-mysterious-holiday.html