Mercantil Bank, one of the largest banks headquartered in Florida, has announced the launch of its “ZoolensSM Gallery,” a traveling photographic display showcasing the winning student photographs of the Bank’s 2016 ZoolensSM Photography Project. Designed to foster awareness of wildlife among Miami-Dade County’s youths, ZoolensSM encourages middle school students to visit Zoo Miami, creatively photograph their favorite animal(s) and submit their best photo to win prizes.
Now on display within the lobby of the Bank’s Coral Gables Headquarters, located at 220 Alhambra Circle, the “ZoolensSM Gallery” will remain at the location through the end of March, before traveling to the Kendall banking center and continuing throughout the year to several of Mercantil Bank’s other Miami-Dade County banking centers. The display will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays.
“We are so proud of all the Miami-Dade County middle school students who continue to amaze community members with their outstanding level of creativity,” said Mercantil Bank Vice-Chairman and CEO Millar Wilson. “For over 35 years now, Mercantil Bank has been dedicated to supporting the arts in the communities in which we serve. We are honored that our ZoolensSM Photography Project has given young students an opportunity to share their inspirations and talents through art.”
As part of the 2016 edition of the ZoolensSM Photography Project, nearly 330 middle school students submitted their best photos to be reviewed by a distinguished judge’s panel, which included Zoo Miami’s Director of Communications Ron Magill. The top 30 student photographers were honored at an awards ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 8, when Angelyn Castillo of Doral Academy was named the first place winner and awarded a $2,000 grand prize and professional camera. Castillo’s winning image, “Nature at its Finest,” along with the photos of the second and third place winners and 11 honorable mentions are featured in the “ZoolensSM Gallery.”
Developed in partnership with Zoo Miami and the Zoological Society of Florida, the ZoolensSMPhotography Project launched in 2010 and is open to all Miami-Dade County middle school students, of both public and private schools. The 2017 project is scheduled to begin in October.
To learn more about the ZoolensSM Photography Project, visit www.zoolens.com. For additional information about Mercantil Bank, visit www.mercantilcb.comor follow @Mercantilcb on Twitter.
ZoolensSM Gallery Display Schedule at Mercantil Bank Banking Centers:
March 2017: Coral Gables – 220 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134April - May 2017: Kendall – 11631 N. Kendall Drive, Miami, FL 33176June - July 2017: West Hialeah – 11701 West Okeechobee Road, Hialeah Gardens, FL 33018
August - September 2017: Galloway – 2500 NW 87 Avenue, Miami, FL 33172
ABOUT MERCANTIL COMMERCEBANK:
Mercantil Bank, N.A. is one of the largest banks in South Florida serving its community for over 35 years. Mercantil Servicios Financieros (MSF), a Venezuelan company, beneficially owns the Bank through U.S. bank holding companies. MSF is the largest provider of financial services in Venezuela with more than 90 years of experience. Mercantil Bank has assets of $8.4 billion. The Bank is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida and has 22 Banking Centers - 15 located in South Florida and 7 in Houston, Texas, as well as 1 loan production office in Manhattan, New York. The Bank offers a wide variety of domestic, international, personal and commercial banking services, including investment, trust, and estate planning through its subsidiaries, Mercantil Investment Services, Inc. and Mercantil Trust Company, N.A. For more information, please visit www.mercantilcb.com.
ABOUT ZOO MIAMI
Zoo Miami, rated in 2008 as one of the top ten Zoos in the U.S. by Tripadvisor.com, houses more than 1,200 animals in a cage-less setting that approximates the animals’ natural habitats and provides visitors with the feel of being on a safari. Large open air exhibits, a children’s zoo, tram rides, family cycles, a monorail, and interactive exhibits make Zoo Miami—also named one of America’s Best Zoos and the Number One Zoo for Pachyderms by The Intrepid Traveler in 2008—a unique experience for visitors of all ages. For more information, visitwww.zoomiami.orgor call (305) 251-0400.
ABOUT THE ZOO MIAMI FOUNDATION: Zoo Miami Foundation, formerly Zoological Society of Florida, was awarded four stars in 2015 by America's premier independent charity evaluator, Charity Navigator. It was founded in 1956 and is the nonprofit support organization for Zoo Miami. Today, it is one of the largest membership organizations in South Florida, with approximately 67,000 members. Its activities and programs include fundraising, marketing, volunteer services, educational programs, special events, and member programming. Its mission is to encourage an appreciation for the world’s wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations. For more information, visitinfo@zoomiami.orgor call (305) 255-5551.
