SUPPORTERS HEAD SOUTH OF THE BORDER FOR ANNUAL PALM BEACH ZOO

“DO AT THE ZOO - SOUTH OF THE BORDER” 

WEST PALM BEACH (May 21, 2012) – Donning sombreros and shaking maracas, Palm Beach Zoo supporters traveled “South of the Border” on Friday, May 4th for the Palm Beach Zoo’s annual spring Do at the Zoo fundraiser.

Taking place under a near full moon on the Mayan Plaza, event highlights included the opportunity to meet and greet exotic animals accompanied by zookeepers and a lucky few got to actually travel behind the scenes for up close and personal visits with bears, tigers, and jaguars. 

The sold-out evening, hosted by Mary Baker and Susanna Hager with Whitney Bylin and Tommy Quick serving as Event Committee Chairmen, included cocktails courtesy of Bacardi USA and a movable feast provided by area restaurants including: The Bonefish Grill, Cha Cha’s, Imoto, Outback Steakhouse, PB Catch, Café Sapori, Echo, the Leopard Lounge, the Palm Beach Zoo’s Tropics Café, and Rooney’s Public House.

The array of local restaurants served up delectable delights that included lamb chops with remoulade, crab cakes, Bang Bang Shrimp, guajillo pork tacos, south of the border braised beef on crispy wonton chips, homemade Mexican wedding cookies, an ice cream cart, and chicken and cheese quesadillas to end the evening.  Celebrating 150 years of bringing people together, Bacardi USA made quite a splash with dedicated "Bacardi bars," throughout the party, which included Bacardi bartenders serving up a full complement of spirits.  There were also Bacardi models in their signature red dresses, who greeted guests with south of the border cocktails featuring the Bacardi-owned premium Tequila, Cazadores.  Guests enjoyed the smooth "Cazadores ZooRita" made with grapefruit juice, limejuice and agave nectar and the refreshing "Cazadores El Tigre" with grapefruit soda and limejuice.

Host Committee members included: Lourdes Fanjul, Tory Grauer, Ashley Ramos, April Finch, Patrick Killian, Lauriston Roach, Mary Freitas, Emily Mateer, and Samantha Storkerson. Presenting Corporate Sponsors included Bacardi USA, C-Biz, Christie’s, Florida Power & Light and Maisie’s Daisies.

All proceeds from “Do at the Zoo – South of the Border” help the zoo advance its mission to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat and to inspire others to value and conserve the natural world. 

The Palm Beach Zoo is home to more than 1,400 animals and is nationally accredited by the Association of zoos and aquariums. The zoo, located at 1301 Summit Boulevard, in West Palm Beach, is planning a new tiger exhibit in which a portion of the proceeds from the various zoo fundraisers goes towards.  This exhibit is being designed to enhance the habitat of the three Malayan tiger cubs born just one year ago. Last year, the Palm Beach Zoo was one of only two institutions to successfully breed Malayan tigers. In Partnership with Panthera and the Wildlife Conservation Society through their Tigers Forever project, The Palm Beach Zoo is proud to be a part of a global effort to help protect tigers and their habitat. 

If you would like more information on this topic or to schedule an interview, please call Linda Soper at (561) 835-9057 or email: linda@lindalanemarketing.com. 

Photos courtesy of Lucien Capehart Photography.

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