L.A. Zoo's 45th Annual Beastly Ball, LA
 |
| Lance Bass with the L.A. Zoo's okapi | Photo: Jamie Pham |
When: Saturday, June 20, 2015 @ 6PM
Hot Spot: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles, CA
Deets: The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s (GLAZA) 45th Annual Beastly Ball honors Los Angeles City Council Member Tom LaBonge (District 4) and 99 Cents Only Stores, led by President and CEO Stéphane Gonthier, while bestowing the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award on singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, author and philanthropist Lance Bass, who shot to fame as a member of pop band ‘NSYNC, on Saturday, June 20, 2015, 6 pm, under the stars at the Los Angeles Zoo. LaBonge is being celebrated for his 14 years of advocacy for the Zoo, its animals and the people it serves. 99 Cents Only stores is being recognized for their exceptional support of the Zoo and the spirit in which the company and its employees participate and work collaboratively with the Zoo to meet community needs.
Bass’ accomplishments epitomize the spirit of the Mankiewicz award, which recognizes entertainment industry professionals for outstanding leadership in local or global wildlife and environmental conservation or for efforts to promote civic pride and harmony in our multi-cultural community. A passionate philanthropist, he is equally passionate about pet adoption and a huge animal lover, while his foundation, The Lance Bass Foundation, meets the health needs of low-income children. He is the fifth recipient of the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award, following entertainment industry attorney Ken Ziffren (2014), actresses Pauley Perrette (2013) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (2012) and rock icon Slash, a GLAZA Trustee (2011).
Bass’ award was established in memory of former GLAZA Chairman Tom Mankiewicz, a beloved and highly regarded film and television writer and director. Mankiewicz, who passed away in 2010, was associated with such films as “Superman,” “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Live and Let Die,” and the “Hart to Hart” television series, among many others. He championed the cause of saving and protecting wildlife and the environment through education and on-the-ground conservation. He also promoted the Zoo’s universal appeal and its accessibility as a gathering place for all in Los Angeles’ diverse communities.
Beastly Ball guests, invited to dress in casual or safari attire, stroll through the Zoo after hours observing its inhabitants, watching animal feedings, chatting with keepers, viewing small animals up close, and enjoying entertainment, dancing, and dining on bountiful fare provided by some of L.A.’s most popular restaurants. Also featured are live and silent auctions comprised of hundreds of remarkable items and one-of-a-kind opportunities. The Beastly Ball, known as “one of L.A.’s biggest and most popular fund-raisers” (FOX News) and “one of the best parties in Los Angeles” (KCBS/KCAL TV News), traditionally attracts nearly 1,000 attendees and raises more than $1 million annually for the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.6 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered. Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; an Indian Rhino Encounter direct-contact opportunity; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo; one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world; a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants; and much more. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, the Zoo has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife. The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 60,000 member households representing more than 240,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.
Who You May Spot: Lance Bass, Tom LaBonge
Hint For The Average Socialite: Tickets and sponsorships are available. Tickets to the Beastly Ball are $1,000 per person, with individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities at higher levels also available. For reservation and event information please call Mari Vazquez at (323) 644-4753.
What's Trending: @lazoo @LanceBass
...