Honoring support for animals and conservation education, always

Spire leaders present Saint Louis Zoo with an honorary InSpire Award

At Spire, we’re committed to organizations and institutions that make life better for those in the communities we serve. This one happens to be full of furry friends.  

The Saint Louis Zoo is a treasure in the fabric of St. Louis and surrounding areas. While their work in conservation has earned them numerous accolades throughout the years, the Zoo has made animal education (and just plain fun!) accessible to all by keeping admission free.  

Spire Missouri President Steve Mills presented an InSpire Award to the Zoo, honoring them for their current and future conservation efforts as well as their long-time support of the community.

Created in 2023, the InSpire Awards honor exceptional nonprofits that demonstrate vision, innovation and a commitment to building toward a brighter future.  

Spire and the Zoo have been long-time members of the St. Louis community. Spire, then known as Laclede Gas Light Company, was already about 53 years old when the Zoological Society of St. Louis was formed in 1910.

Committed to sustaining the Zoo’s animal care and operational excellence, Spire has been a St Louis Zoo Marlin Perkins Society member for over 14 years. Spire also sponsors the annual Wild Lights holiday display and has contributed to multiple capital campaigns in Zoo history, including The Living Promise Campaign that helped build Grizzly Ridge and Polar Bear Point.  

When the Saint Louis Zoo acquired WildCare Park in north St. Louis County in 2019, Spire donated the labor to move the original gas line from the middle of the property to the perimeter so animal conservation areas could be constructed safely.  

For the past several years, Spire’s field operations team has volunteered to help remove honeysuckle at WildCare Park and the Sears Lehmann Jr. Wildlife Reserve in Franklin County.

Opening in spring 2027 and located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in north St. Louis County, WildCare Park is expected to host up to 425,000 guests annually and create over 100 new jobs. You can learn more about the project at stlzoo.org/about/wildcare-park.