With latest $50M gift, Smith family goes big
A gift from the Smith family will help the Memphis Zoo’s elephant and other African animal exhibit. (Courtesy Memphis Zoo)
The Memphis Zoo’s elephants will soon join the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers as the latest beneficiaries of the Smith family’s generosity.
Nearly three years ago, a $50 million gift from the family helped break the stalemate over stadium funding between the NBA franchise and the U of M. The pledge helped the City of Memphis stretch $350 million in state funds between ongoing renovations to FedExForum and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Now, the Smith family, led by Diane Smith, the wife of late FedEx founder Fred Smith, is making a similar pledge and challenge to the Memphis Zoo: Raise $50 million, and we’ll match it. It’s the latest example of the family’s long-term backing of sports and civic assets in Memphis.
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Samuel Hardiman
Samuel Hardiman is an enterprise reporter who focuses on government and politics. He began his career at the Tulsa World where he covered business and K-12 education. Hardiman came to Memphis in 2018 to join the Memphis Business Journal, covering government and economic development. He then served as the Commercial Appeal’s city hall reporter and later joined The Daily Memphian in 2023. His current work focuses on the intersection of government, public policy, influence and how public dollars are spent.
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