Grace, Nobility, and the Closest Animal to Heaven

In 1975, Marsha and Michael Fuerst welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world. Matthew Ray slept with his little stuffed animal giraffe every night. But, at the tender age of five months, he died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Marsha and Michael were instantly propelled into becoming crusaders for SIDS awareness, appearing on national talk shows, in local newspapers, and raising vital amounts of money to fund SIDS research. Finally in 1982, they donated a ten-foot tall Masai Giraffe named, Mattie, to the Los Angeles Zoo.

The giraffe not only represents a boy who meant the world to his family, but, as the tallest land animal on earth, it is also the closest animal to heaven. The giraffe creates a desire to reach for the skies and to see the world from a whole new perspectiveJust like a great education.