Last night, Team WildAid was beyond proud to celebrate our international ambassadors in Los Angeles, as we work together to end the illicit trade in ivory, rhino horn and other wildlife products that are driving a global poaching crisis.The event, hosted by the Montage Beverly Hills, raised over $2.5 million to support WildAid’s programs throughout the world. In only a few short months, we’ve expanded our mission to include programs in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand, in addition to our established work in countries such as China and Vietnam. The support of WildAid donors is vital to our work; thank you so much!
We also had the privilege of awarding actress Maggie Q with our 2015 Wildlife Champion Award. A WildAid ambassador since 2012, Maggie stars in the “Say No to Rhino Horn” campaign, which in part educates consumers about the myths of rhino horn’s medicinal properties, as well as the “I’m FINished with Fins” campaign against shark fin soup. She has filmed several PSAs, and has participated in multiple photo shoots and media interviews to help raise awareness of the plight of animals around the world.
Joining Maggie at Saturday’s gala were Fergie & Josh Duhamel, Paula Abdul, Chevy & Jayni Chase, Tanzanian music artist Alikiba, Kristin Bauer, Michael Cudlitz, Bo Derek & John Corbett, Junior Nyong’o, Amy Tan and many, many more devoted WildAid supporters.
Click here for more photos of the evening’s red carpet and festivities. Special thanks to all of our sponsors, and to our campaign partners African Wildlife Foundation and Save the Elephants. We couldn’t do it without you.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
ELEPHANT SPONSORS
Wendy Benchley and John Jeppson
Xochi and Michael Birch
David and Susan Dossetter
Chuck Fipke
Kindy French
Simone Friedman
Jud Ireland
Shannon O’Leary Joy
Nikki Lafferty
Steven Stone
RHINO SPONSORS
Tod and Fiona Bensen
Merav Broder
Alan Chung and Buffy Redsecker
Creative Artists Agency
Pamela Farkas and Andrew Paul
Kathy Macdonald
Mary O’Malley and Robert Dion
Jeanne and Walter Sedgwick
Pete Solvik and Becky Christian
Beverly Spector and Kenneth Lipson
Amy Tan and Louis DeMattei
Toms / The Toms Animal Initiative
Untitled Management
Julie Wainwright
CORPORATE SPONSORS
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
GeoEx
Heidi Rossi
Swissair
Toms
Whalerock Industries
GUARDIAN SPONSORS
Sherry Bardack
Steve Bardack
David Haslingden
Lucie Jay
Cathy McMurtry
Steve and Mattie Morgan
Ellie Phipps Price and
Christopher Towt
Victoria Stewman and Michael Fitzpatrick
SPECIAL THANKS TO
AMC
Artex
Kristin Bauer
Charitybuzz
The City of Beverly Hills
Clase Azul Tequila
Michael Cudlitz
Bo Derek
Pamela Farkas
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Ken Fulk
Gesture
Golden Gate Computing
Melinda and James Henderson
Jackie Hoffner
Heather Keenan and Key Events
Nina Lora
Katharine Martin
Montage Beverly Hills
Maggie Q
The RealReal
Kristian Schmidt
Anna Singer
Spago Beverly Hills
Beverly Spector
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Swiss International Airlines
Steve Valentine and Valentine Group
…and WildAid’s amazing volunteers!
LIVE AUCTION DONORS
Michael Cudlitz, Norman Reedus, Andrew Lincoln, AMC and Miller Union
Elizabeth Ellis, Blue Marble Private
David Hew and Michael King, Kamalame Cay
Alexander Jewell Designs
Misool Eco Resort / Marit Miners
NIZUC Resort & Spa
Cynthia Crummer, Pure Costa Rica Travel / The Springs Resort & Spa
Stephanie Saman and Aryel Dvorquez, Galápagos Luxury Charters
Wilderness Safaris, Cape Grace Hotel and Classic Africa
William Ward, Nomads of the Seas
SILENT AUCTION DONORS
Anonymous
Artists Series Guitars
Benziger Family Winery
Laura Linda Bradley
Andrew & Carlo Brandon-Gordon
Nick Brandt
Buyu Collection
Clase Azul Tequila
Cape Ardor Wines
Gary Danko
Domaine Carneros
Donald Grieg Sculpture
Matt Groening
Melissa Groo Wildlife Photography
Hall Wines of Napa
Hamel Family Wines
Shawn Heinrichs, Blue Sphere Media
Lisa Kristine
Frans Lanting Studio
Camilla Le May
Montage Beverly Hills
Montage Deer Valley
Ol Jogi Limited
Pembe Club
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Philippa Roberts
Rotella Gallery
Safari West
Sama Eyewear
Bill Sanders, Yao Family Wines
Kristian Schmidt
Skybound Entertainment
Ann C. Smith
Sojourn Cellars
The Suarez Family
Toscana
United Artists Media Group
Uru
Joanna Vargas Skincare Salon
Warner Bros Entertainment
WildAid Board of Directors
Erika Wunch, Sticks Sand Bones
CORE SUPPORTING FOUNDATIONS
The Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley
Charitable Trust
Sandler Foundation
The Grantham Foundation for Protection of the Environment
MacArthur Foundation
The Tilia Fund
CAMPAIGN PARTNERS
African Wildlife Foundation
Save the Elephants
—GALA CO-CHAIRS—
Roma Khanna
Nina Lora
—GALA COMMITTEE—
Bo Derek
Laura Linda Bradley
Michael Cudlitz
Elizabeth Fullerton
Pamela S. Farkas
Eric George
Jackie Hoffner
Corie Knights
Trevor Neilson
Jen Ryan
Bev Spector
Dick & Cindy Troop
Julie Wainwright
Keir Wohlman
Bob Zangrillo
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WildAid is a non-profit organization with a mission to protect wildlife from illegal trade and other imminent threats. While most wildlife conservation groups focus on protecting animals from poaching, WildAid primarily works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products such as elephant ivory, rhino horn and shark fin soup. With an unrivaled portfolio of celebrity ambassadors and a global network of media partners, WildAid leverages more than $308 million in annual pro-bono media support with a simple message: When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too.
Journalists on deadline may email communications@wildaid.org