New York Daily News
Tuesday, May 26th 2009

Two weeks ago in this space, the economic troubles forcing the closure of some exhibits at the Bronx Zoo and the transfer of some animals to other wildlife parks struck a chord with Franklin Cruz, president of Direct Environmental Corp., on Tiffany St. in Hunts Point.

He said he grew up here, and the zoo was "the one great sanctuary we could escape to."

Cruz phoned the zoo and donated a product his company builds to help in the park's sustainability efforts, a solar-powered trash compacting receptacle called BigBelly. "We are very grateful to Mr. Cruz for helping the Bronx Zoo with our greening efforts as we negotiate a very difficult global economic crisis that threatens all of our funding sources," said John Calvelli, executive vice president of public affairs. "We love it when a Bronx native rallies with us and when we partner with local businesses."