Bristol County Savings Bank Awards $5,000 Grant To Friends of Capron Park Zoo
TAUNTON, MA, July 16, 2026 — Bristol County Savings Bank, through its Foundation, recently awarded a $5,000 grant to Friends of Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, Massachusetts to help fund the construction of an ADA-compliant entrance to the Zoo’s popular Red Panda Exhibit. This new, wider entrance with railings will feature easy access for visitors with disabilities, provide an educational space with seating and a video monitor, as well as facilitate Red Panda encounters with zoo-goers. Since the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation was formed in 1996, more than $38 million has been committed to hundreds of non-profits in the communities the Bank serves. In 2025 alone, the Foundation awarded $2.9 million to various 501(c)(3) organizations.
Capron Park Zoo’s 8-acres is the home to more than 100 animals representing over 40 species and its public educational programs and recreational activities are dedicated to furthering the understanding of animals. The Zoo is an accredited member of both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents (AZAD) and participates in the national Species Survival Plan program.
“The Friends of Capron Park Zoo are very grateful for the $5,000 grant awarded to us by Bristol County Savings Bank,” said Joscelyn Varieur, President, Friends of Capron Park Zoo. “Our grant writing team works very hard to secure funding for our beloved Zoo. This money will be put to good use when we construct our new ADA-compliant Red Panda Exhibit.”
“This grant to Friends of Capron Park Zoo aligns with our Foundation’s mission to support education initiatives and economic development in the areas we serve,” said John Silva, President and CEO of Bristol County Savings Bank and President of the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation. “The new entrance to the exhibit will equitably educate the general public about conservation efforts while offering greater access to what everyone wants to see, the Red Pandas!”
Friends of Capron Park Zoo (FPCZ) was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit organization to serve as the fundraising arm of Capron Park Zoo. Since inception, through the volunteer efforts of FPCZ and the generosity of the community, more than $750,000 has been raised to fund a range of capital improvement projects, new equipment, conservation initiatives and education programs. The impact over the years has enabled Capron Park Zoo to improve and enhance the overall experience for the animal collection, the Zoo staff and visitors alike, while generating support and raising awareness of the world and wildlife ecology.
Bristol County Savings Bank is an active supporter in the communities in which it serves. The Foundation was established in 1996 as part of the Bank’s 150th Anniversary celebration. Its purpose is to fund needs that contribute to the economic and the social well-being of the people and institutions located in the greater Taunton/Attleboro region, the greater New Bedford/Dartmouth region, the greater Fall River region and greater Providence, Rhode Island region, with particular emphasis in the areas of education and literacy, economic development and housing for the low- to moderate-income population.