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Child Led Program Inspires Tampa Bay Organizations to Join Together

Inspired by kids around the country wanting to do more to help other kids and animals affected by disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Mahila Partnership launched a new program Mahila Kids, with the support of BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ's) and Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. Together they are kicking off a supply drive on Saturday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at BJ's Wholesale Club Town & Country, located at 7651 W. Waters Avenue, and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.at BJ's Wholesale Club New Tampa, located at 6290 Commerce Palms Drive.

As part of the Lowry Park Zoo-to-You ZooVentures program, the Zoo's animal ambassadors will be at BJ's and attendees will have the opportunity to experience an up-close animal encounter as well as receive information about how to get involved with Mahila Kids and important facts about protecting wildlife. "As a center for conservation of endangered wildlife and an educational resource for our community, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is pleased to partner with Mahila Kids and BJ's Wholesale Club to help generate awareness of the environmental issues affecting animals and their habitats around the world," said Tony LaForgia, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo's Manager of Corporate Relations. "Understandably, many in our community are greatly concerned about wildlife ramifications from the oil spill in the Gulf, which serves as a reminder of the critical need to protect wildlife and wild places."

Mahila Kids is encouraging the community to hold additional collection drives to support Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo's conservation programs, including rescue and rehabilitation of Florida species such as manatees. The list of items needed is available on the Mahila website at www.mahilapartnership.org/mahilakids.htm.

The community can also make cash donations or purchase supplies from the list at one of the Tampa BJ's Wholesale Club locations listed above. These BJ's locations will have merchandise markers around their stores identifying items needed for the zoo and are also serving as a drop-off location for purchases and donations through August 6, 2010. "BJ's Wholesale Club is dedicated to supporting the communities in which we serve," said Laura Ferrario, Community Relations Specialist for BJ's Wholesale Club. "We are delighted to host this supply drive and hope the local community will join us in our efforts to fulfill the needs of our local partners dedicated to conserving wildlife." If you are not currently a member, BJ's is offering a complimentary one day pass to be used for shopping during the event.

About BJ's Wholesale Club: BJ's is dedicated to providing members with high-quality, brand-name food and merchandise at prices that are significantly lower than supermarkets, supercenters, department stores, drug stores and specialty retail stores. BJ's carries the most product variety of any wholesale club with more than 7,000 items, including supermarket-sized staples, USDA Choice meats and stock-up items. BJ's is the only wholesale club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and for greater convenience, offers the most payment options including EBT.

Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 189 clubs and 105 gas stations in 15 eastern states. Learn more and shop online at BJs.com or for exclusive content visit BJ's on Facebook and Twitter.

About Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo: Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in education, conservation and research. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and has been named the No. 1 zoo in America by both Parents *magazine (2009) and Child magazine (2004). The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48) and is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with extended hours on select nights during the summer. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.LowryParkZoo.com. Also find the Zoo on Facebook and Twitter.

About Mahila Kids: Inspired by Payson and Wynne and led by 9-year-old Hillary, Mahila Kids was started to raise money to benefit children and animals affected by disasters. Mahila Kids is now working with Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and other Gulf Coast organizations dealing with the effects of the oil spill. By empowering our children, we can bring about leadership, inspiring ideas and positive social change.