When you think about feeding time at the zoo, it’s likely that images of elephants contentedly chomping on hay, tigers tearing into mounds of raw beef and penguins reaching out for sardines tossed out by a handler come immediately to mind.
The phrase takes on a whole new meaning, though, when the Denver Zoo hosts its signature fundraiser, the Do At The Zoo.
The guests arrive at the popular attraction in Denver’s City Park at sunset to spend the evening sampling food and drink from dozens of restaurants, breweries, wineries and distilleries while enjoying music and a look at the critters as they prepare to bed down for the night.
Rob Kaufmann, a shareholder with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and chair-elect of the zoo’s board of governors, coordinated the event with his wife, Jen Gilbert-Kaufmann. The 2,000 guests helped raise $546,406 for What We Do At The Zoo, which is science education, local and global conservation of wild animals and wild places, and providing world-class care for the animals who call Denver Zoo home.
Kaufmann’s law firm and his Gilbert-Kaufmann Family Foundation also hosted the welcome reception for Do At The Zoo’s top-tier ticket holders. Anadarko Petroleum was the presenting sponsor.
Mother Nature provided perfect weather — no rain and no scorching hot temperatures — for guests like Ann Speer and Kathy Imel, who are on the board of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District; JJ Ament, chief executive officer for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.; Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks; and Becky Schaub, president of the Junior League of Denver to spend a leisurely evening while absorbing the sights, the tastes and the sounds.
The taste treats included summer squash caponata from Coperta; ocean trout tartine from Departure; ramen shooters and pork buns from Menya Noodle Bar; leg of lamb with lamb bacon, harissa yogurt and mint from Butcher’s Bistro and Cajun shrimp and avocado mousse in a phyllo cup from The Palm.
One of the most popular drinks was Zooski, a blonde ale from Great Divide Brewing Co. that was developed in cooperation with and is served on tap at the zoo.
Denver Zoo’s interim president, Denny O’Malley, joined board of governors chair Sherri Koelbel, who had chaired Do At The Zoo in 2000, in welcoming such fellow directors as Marcela de la Mar, Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, Eddie Robinson, Dr. Charles H. Scoggin, Kelly Eisinger; Doug Tisdale and Patrick Green.
In mid-September O’Malley stepped aside as Bert Vescolani took his place as president, arriving in Denver by way of St. Louis, MO, where he had spent seven years in a similar position at the Saint Louis Science Center.
Others supporting the zoo in such a delicious manner were Leadership Council members Laurie Galbreath and Lou Clinton; Judith Ann Newman and her husband, Jim Bien, with Bill and Karla Ninivaggi; Matthew Keeney and John Byers; Christie Ziegler, director of communications and marketing for Kavod Senior Life; radio executive Zee Ferrufino; attorney Craig Fleishman and Bobbi Rankin; Heidi and Bruce Hoyt; Elaine Torres and Stephanie Bender.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, partiwriter@hotmail.com or @joannedavidson on Twitter
