Zoo’s 26th Annual Gala will be held March 7th
By Kristy Kneiding
The Living Desert is pleased to announce that its 26th annual Zoobilee Gala is returning to the zoo on Saturday, March 7 and will feature “Deana Martin LIVE at The Cheetah Lounge.”
The Living Desert is celebrating its 45th anniversary and to honor that era, the gala will transport guests back to the time when the Rat Pack ruled the desert. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part. The highlight of the evening will be an incredible performance by Deana Martin, Dean Martin’s daughter. Deana will pay homage to the Great American Songbook, singing some of the most popular songs of the 20th century. Thanks in part to technology, Deana will also perform a few special duets with her late father.
The evening begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction, featuring the Deana Martini and entertainment by the desert’s own charismatic crooner, Michael D’Angelo. An elegant dinner and drinks will follow at The Palm Garden Patio, which will be transformed into The Cheetah Lounge and feature a full menu inspired by the 1960s.
A special Raise the Paddle effort will support the new Desert Carnivore Conservation Center. A generous, anonymous donor has graciously offered to match up to $150,000. The money generated from Raise the Paddle will help renovate the carnivore enclosures for animal rehabilitation and breeding work with threatened, endangered and near-extinct animals in the zoo. The animals included in the renovated Small Carnivore Conservation Center are the Fennec Fox, Swift Fox, Kit Fox, and Sand Cat. The Center will also introduce the breeding of the very rare Black-footed Cat for accredited zoos all across the country.
“After several years of holding our gala offsite, we are thrilled to be able to return to The Living Desert to celebrate our 45th anniversary,” said Allen Monroe, President/CEO of The Living Desert. “This night is all about the animals and the zoo environment, so it’s nice for our guests to be among them on this special occasion and they can directly see where their support is going.”
Individual tickets for “Deana Martin LIVE at The Cheetah Lounge” are available for $500 per person. A table for 10 people can be purchased for $5,000 and includes preferred placement in The Cheetah Lounge. Event host table sponsorships are available for $20,000 and include a private meet and greet with Deana Martin, special gifts, priority table location in The Cheetah Lounge and early admission to this inaugural event.
The gala is The Living Desert’s largest fundraiser of the year and all of the proceeds from the evening go to support the mission of desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation. This year’s gala is also providing the opportunity to improve the health and lives of the animals in The Living Desert, as well as improving the population of selected species worldwide.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.LivingDesert.org or call 760-346-5694, extension 2166.
