Where Dreams Take Wing: Committee Announced for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s Annual Gala

​Annual Fundraising Event Will Support the Zoo’s
Mission of Conservation and Education
 
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – August 22, 2023 – When a passionate group of animal lovers, board members, and Zoo supporters get together, the outcome is a fun and festive way to raise funds for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. A group of women and men from around the region have joined forces to create the Zoo’s fourth in-person Gala, this year celebrating the multi-generational impact the Zoo has had on conservationists of all ages.

​The elegant evening affair, designed to raise money to support the Zoo’s mission of conserving critically endangered species, will be held on November 11, 2023, at the Inn at Longshore in Westport. This year’s Gala will feature cocktails, a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, musical entertainment, and animal encounters at a beautiful venue on the water.

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The evening’s program will feature representatives of the Zoo’s Conservation Discovery Corps, an award-winning teen program, with remarks from Jennifer Farrell, the recipient of the Zoo’s Achievements in Conservation Award. Farrell will talk about Monarch Watch, a Citizen Science program that collects valuable data to study the declining population of Monarch butterflies.
 
The evening’s emcee will be Chris Rowlands, a popular musician, songwriter and entertainer with a long history of supporting the Zoo through his family-oriented stage shows each summer.  A native of Connecticut, Rowlands’s signature entertainment style creatively blends music, comedy and education to create fast-paced shows that teach and inspire young people.
 
Committee members include Sue Amatrudo of East Haven; Judi Cardello, Lisa Clair and Audrey Delfoe of Fairfield; Teresa Nakouzi of Hamden; Chip Dumais, Dean DeBiase, Lisa Croce Jackson and Ashley Volkens of Milford; Lisa DeGoursey of Orange; Jennifer DiBlanda of Prospect; Antonio Rodrigues of Stratford; Nadine Green of Thomaston; Bernadette Baldino of Trumbull; and Brooke Hopkins of Woodbridge.
 
“The Gala is a celebration of the Zoo’s wildlife conservation achievements, inspiring supporters who are passionate about protecting the natural world,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “As animals continue to disappear in the wild, and as the “wild” itself disappears due to climate change, deforestation and human-wildlife conflict, the role of accredited zoos becomes more important in ensuring the future of endangered species.”
 
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE),  species management programs administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for its member zoos.  Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is home to a number of endangered species, including Amur leopards, American red wolves, Mexican grey wolves, golden lion tamarins and red pandas. Many other Zoo residents are considered vulnerable or threatened.
 
The Zoo is seeking sponsors for the event. Beginning with an exclusive presenting sponsorship priced at $25,000, there are multiple opportunities for corporations and individuals to contribute. Interested supporters can contact Ashley Volkens at 203-394-5522, or at [email protected]. More information can be found at https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/gala.html.
 
 
About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
Get your ticket to adventure! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 101st year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves.  Other highlights include our new Andean Bear Habitat, Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove.  As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.