Chadwick greets Hope the kangaroo.

We’re thrilled to celebrate Linda Chadwick, who was named Volunteer of the Year during our virtual volunteer appreciation event last month!

Chadwick has donated 3,776 hours of her time to the Zoo since 2017, with more than 1,000 of those hours contributed last year alone. Her roles include caring for animals in the Paws On Petting Zone, assisting with the Perdido Key beach mouse conservation breeding program, interacting with guests in the aviaries and Kangaroo Walkabout, helping to facilitate education programs, tending to gardens, sewing masks for Zoo employees and volunteers, and supervising other volunteers as a “day captain.”

“Linda’s fingerprints are all over the Zoo, and she goes above and beyond for us in every way possible,” said Kathleen Nichols, the Zoo’s director of volunteer programs. “We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated volunteer and recognize her in this way.”

Born in San Francisco, Chadwick has lived in Brevard County for 13 years. Since her retirement from the Department of Defense in 2010, she and her husband have visited 66 countries.

In 2020, 709 volunteers donated a total of 64,053 hours to the Zoo—saving us an incredible $751,350 in salary expenses.

Congratulations to Chadwick, and thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers!