By Lynn Selich | Society Editor
Returning for the 18th year, the Santa Ana Zoo’s annual Zoofari gala fundraiser hosted around 350 guests who were treated like royalty with the theme, “Hot Egyptian Nights!”
Guests were greeted with a special drink appropriately named, “Cleopatra’s Kiss” and enjoyed special visits with the animals in between bidding on a robust silent auction. The evening’s highlight were keepssake photos of each guest taken with the zoo’s summer visitors, Noah and Kaleb, two very large camels.
The event netted almost $100,000 to help contribute to the much needed animal commissary and Zoo improvements.
Back this year by popular demand were the evenings co hosts; KOCE’s Ed Arnold and philanthropist Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, with Chuck Dreyer returning as auctioneer. Frank Mickedeit, from the OC Register was honored for his work promoting the Zoo by spending three nights “living in a cage” with his experience captured on a webcam as well as documented in his daily column.
The Zoofari fundraiser is sponsored by FOSAZ, a non-profit organization which has helped support and improve the Zoo for over 30 years.
The Santa Ana Zoo is Orange County’s only AZA accredited Zoo and is recognized as signifying excellence and commitment to animal care and conservation, providing a place to have fun, to learn, and which can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
For more information, please call (714) 953-8555 or visit “www.santaanazoo.org.
