Maggie Q, WildAid’s 2015 Wildlife Champion (Photos: Brian To Photography)

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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About WildAid

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