When a passionate group of animal enthusiasts, board customers, Zoo supporters and team get collectively to elevate resources for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, the outcome is good results outside of anyone’s wildest creativity. The Zoo’s 3rd in-human being Gala returned this 12 months on October 29 at the Inn at Longshore in Westport. The Centennial Gala, celebrating the Zoo’s 100th year, elevated far more than $100,000 for the Zoo. All resources lifted that night assist the Zoo’s mission of conservation, training, study, and visitor expertise.
Practically two hundred fifty visitors attended the Gala, emceed by Melissa Sheketoff of Melissa in the Morning on WICC 600 AM. The Gala’s Showcased Keynote Speaker was Jim Breheny, the director of the Bronx Zoo and government vice president of zoos and aquarium for the Wildlife Conservation Culture (WCS). His subject for the evening was Zoos and Aquariums in the 21st Century, focusing on animal welfare, animal husbandry and the species survival software.
The celebration involved cocktails, musical leisure, a seated meal, stay and silent auctions, and visits by animal ambassadors from the Zoo, which include a Gyrfalcon that designed a spectacular entrance by flying around the phase to open up the evening’s festivities.
“Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is household to significant species protection function. I’m delighted that so lots of associates of the local community regarded that the Zoo is truly a jewel in Fairfield County and came out to support its get the job done,” reported Committee Co-Chair Sonja Narcisse.
“This was the third yearly in-individual gala, with a fourth by now prepared for 2023,” added Committee Co-Chair Claudette Kunkes.
“We were being so fortuitous to be capable to attract on the pretty talented Melissa Sheketoff to perform the party and Jim Breheny to talk to our attendees,” mentioned Zoo Director
Gregg Dancho. “We owe both equally of them our gratitude for generating the evening a success.”
“Our mission is served in a very large way by the quite a few sponsors who stepped forward to assistance help this occasion. We also thank our Co-Chairs Claudette Kunkes and Sonja Narcisse, committee users, board members, our company, staff, and volunteers,” Dancho additional.
The Zoo would like to thank its very generous sponsors, which includes the Natt Family members, VIP Sponsor Amur Tiger Sponsors Day Pitney, Range Design Team, Claudette and Steven Kunkes, Liberty Lender, M&T Lender, Barbara Miller, Sonja Narcisse, Park Metropolis Wind and the Stratford Mayor’s Charity Golfing Match Red Wolf Sponsors Connecticut Neighborhood Bank, Desired destination Wellness Devices, Ernst & Young, High definition Segur Insurance policies and Ocelot Sponsors Atlantic Aviation, Catherine Ladnier, CATIC, Ganim Money, Jackson Regulation Team CT, Newtown Personal savings Lender, RJ Testo & Associates, and Robinson and Cole, as very well as the a lot more than 100 local companies, dining places and businesses who contributed goods to the are living and silent auctions.
