Notes of Hope Partnership Brings Messages of Support to Cancer Patients

At Wildlights, visitors to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are turning a holiday tradition into an opportunity to support cancer patients through handwritten notes of encouragement.

Through the Notes of Hope program, guests are invited to write cards filled with warm wishes for patients receiving care at OhioHealth facilities. The program, now in its fourth year, has become a meaningful way for families to give back.

“OhioHealth is one of our largest and longest-standing partners,” said Erica Clouse, coordinator of partnership activations at the Columbus Zoo. “A few years ago, we asked how we could take that partnership beyond the zoo and into the community. That’s where Notes of Hope was born.”

During Wildlights, stations are set up in the Asia Quest building and Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounters Village in Adventure Cove. Visitors of all ages can stop in and write a personalized message for someone who may need encouragement during the holidays.

Susan Manganello, who is undergoing cancer treatment at OhioHealth, said the note she received from father and son, Aaron and Crew Pound, was especially meaningful.

“It’s actually kind of cool,” she said. “Knowing that it’s from a child, you think about all the honesty that goes into it. It’s a sincere wish from someone who doesn’t even know who I am.”

Jennifer Arnold, an OhioHealth social work navigator, has seen firsthand how small gestures can make a difference for patients navigating long treatment journeys.

“I’ve been working with Susan for a while now, and I know it’s been a year for her,” Arnold said. “To see her smile and feel that little bit of joy during the holidays, especially after so many highs and lows, is really meaningful.”

Zoo staff collect and sort every note before they are delivered to OhioHealth facilities.

“It really lifts our spirits,” Clouse said. “To know that people enjoying Wildlights are also helping spread holiday cheer to someone who might not be feeling that joy right now.”

Over the past four years, thousands of notes have been created for OhioHealth patients, as well as many addressed to the zoo staff and the animals. 

Notes of Hope stations are open during all Wildlights operating hours, including daytime zoo hours, through Jan. 4, 2026.

To learn more about OhioHealth Cancer Care, click here.

To learn more about Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, click here.