In 1969 when SCE&G entered into an agreement with the City of Columbia to lease 108 acres for $1 a year, it was a deal that provided fuel for what would become one of the top-ranked zoos in the nation. Today Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina is home to more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals.

It’s also home to one of the nation's most beautiful and inspiring botanical gardens, developed in part due to another deal with SCE&G in which an additional 70 acres was leased to the city’s park commission for development of the gardens. SCE&G also provided a cash donation, and continues to provide support for numerous zoo projects.