Ted Turner is extending his philanthropy to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.
The former media mogul is contributing $1 million to the Atlanta-based organization, which helps save endangered gorillas in eastern Congo.
It's the largest single gift the organization has ever received, said Clare Richardson, president and CEO of the DFGFI, at a gathering of organization supporters Wednesday night at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
Turner, wearing a navy suit and maroon tie and munching on mini red velvet cupcakes, was present to discuss his donation.
He spoke of going to the Cincinnati Zoo as a young boy and studying the great apes and also of his longtime interest in endangered species.
"I've been watching the work of the Dian Fossey Fund -- we're close neighbors," he said with a smile, referring to the organization's global headquarters at Zoo Atlanta, which houses 24 gorillas, the largest collection in the nation. "I wanted to make a statement. If mankind can learn to stop killing the great apes, maybe we can learn to stop killing each other."
Turner will also become an official gorilla spokesperson, Richardson said.
In 2009, the self-made billionaire visited the Virunga National Park -- the habitat for the remaining species of mountain gorillas -- in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Turner said the objective of his donation is to "save the apes and their habitats...two gorillas in every garage!"
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