When the Pittsburgh Zoological Society was dissolved in 1975, the funds were transferred to establish this fund on behalf of the society for the continued support of the Children's Zoo in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Zoo opened its gates to the public in 1898, giving residents and visitors a place to see animals and plants that they had never seen before. A generous grant from the Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation in 1949 made the Pittsburgh Children's Zoo possible, creating a smaller area within the larger zoo that offered children and their families a place to play and interact with the animals through imaginative exhibits in a more intimate setting.
The Children's Zoo continues to delight generations of families to this day. The fund is used exclusively for the Children's Zoo.