30-Year Celebration to Benefit Cheetah Conservation Fund

Tickets Available NOW

Virtual Event (Free) – Everyone is welcome to visit the full day of streaming educational presentations and access to bid on CCF auction items.

Live-Streamed Event Admission ($100 per ticket) – Entry to Dr. Marker’s Keynote, Donor Recognition Ceremony, Silent and Live Auction, plus all the perks of free general admission.

VIP Experience ($250 per ticket) – Entry to the Live-Streamed Event plus admission to an intimate and interactive Zoomfari video call with Dr. Marker. Plus the first 250 registrants at the VIP level will receive from CCF a custom swag box to include surprise corporate sponsorship items sent directly to you in the U.S.

*CCF Silent Auction will close on October 4th at 11:59pm EST

You are invited to be a part of CCF’s first-ever Virtual Celebration Benefit where you will experience the work being done by CCF field conservationists who are working in Africa. Meet Brian Badger, CCF Director of Conservation & Outreach, as he interviews via Cheetah TV the many people working at CCF with local people and wildlife to save the cheetah and other endangered species from extinction. Learn about the research, education, and conservation efforts CCF implements to help people learn to live in harmony with wildlife and preserve our planet. Also, view CCF’s Silent Auction* items and bid on the items of your choice.

Join Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF’s Executive Founder & Director at the Live-Streamed Event as she presents her Keynote speech to highlight CCF’s achievements and details CCF’s Focus for the Future. Join CCF as Dr. Marker recognizes CCF’s donors and we express our appreciation and gratitude for those who have helped CCF succeed.

ALSO, the event Master of Ceremonies and President of The Explorers Club, Richard Wiese, will present Dr. Laurie Marker with the President’s Award for Conservation.

The Live Auction allows you to take advantage of the opportunity to bid on unique and one of a kind cheetah auction items. Including original artwork, travel packages, behind the scenes tours from several zoo partners, and so much more. All proceeds will benefit the CCF’s mission to save the cheetah.

For those who want a more interactive experience with Dr. Laurie Marker. At the VIP Experience you can join Laurie for a Zoomfari video call in an open discussion about conservation and CCF. This intimate and interactive opportunity with Dr. Marker will be limited to no more than 20 people per Zoom call. The VIP portion of the event will occur after the Oct 3 event. A convenient date and time will be chosen between the dates of October 6th and November 10th. The first 250 U.S. VIP registrants will receive a special swag box of goodies.

Schedule

Virtual Anniversary Celebration

9:00 am to 6:30 pm (EST)

Brian Badger will host a Marathon Event to Save the Cheetah. Each hour key CCF field staff interviews will be broadcasted, and the audience will get a well rounded view of how all things work together to save the cheetah. Throughout the day, there will be zoo videos, testimonials and chapter shout outs.

The times below are Eastern Standard Time

9:00 AM – Livestock Guarding Dog Program
10:00 AM – Feeding and Caring for Cheetahs
11:00 AM – Education and Ecology
12:00 PM – Tourism and Education
1:00 PM – Community Outreach
2:00 PM – Illegal Wildlife Trade
3:00 PM – Habitat Restoration
4:00 PM – Rescue, Rehab and Release
5:00 PM – Genetics and Reproduction
6:00 PM – Surprise, special guest chat with Dr. Laurie Marker

Live Streaming Event (requires a paid access)

Starts at 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm (EST)

6:30 PM – Fireside Chat with Laurie Marker, Richard Wiese and Cynthia Smoot
7:10 PM – Keynote address from Dr. Laurie Marker
7:40 PM – Award presentations
8:00 PM – Live Auction and paddle raise

VIP Experience

9:00 am to 9:00 pm (EST)

(Includes All Portions of the Live Streaming Event Plus More)

Master of Ceremonies – Richard Wiese

As an explorer and respected field scientist, Richard Wiese has traveled to all seven continents. He was the youngest president of the legendary Explorers Club and was re-elected to the position in 2018. Richard has tagged jaguars in the Yucatan jungles, led expeditions to the Northern Territory of Australia and was a member of the largest medical expedition ever conducted on Mt. Everest.

His achievements include: The first ascent of an unclimbed mountain in Alaska, discovering 29 new life forms on Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, and cross-country skiing to the North Pole. As a journalist, he has received numerous honors, including an Emmy Award, a Genesis Award, an Associated Press Folio Award, a Golden Halo Award and the 2012 Walter Cronkite Award for his contributions to journalism and exploration. He is also the author of Born to Explore: How To Be A Backyard Adventurer.

Richard first visited Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Research and Education Centre in 2012 to film an episode of Born to Explore with Dr. Laurie Marker which appeared on Litton’s Weekend Adventure. In 2018, Richard revisited CCF’s work saving the cheetah in a PBS special Namibia: Land of the Cheetah.

Richard Wiese also serves on CCF’s United States Board of Trustees.

Honorary Host – Cynthia Smoot

Cynthia Smoot is the Emmy award-winning co-anchor of the FOX 13 News at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

When she’s not at the anchor desk, Cynthia’s likely covering a story about Florida’s fabulous wildlife or people and their pets. She loves nature and enjoys helping Tampa Bay viewers get to know some of the interesting creatures in their own backyard.

In 2017, Cynthia visited Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Research and Education Centre in Namibia with Dr. Laurie Marker and later became one of CCF’s United States Ambassadors.

30th Anniversary Award Recipients

Loyalty Award

30 Years of Giving – Teresa A. Delaney & Steve Eklund
25 Years of Giving – Dr. John Walsh

Distinguished Conservation Hero

Annie & Robert Graham
Susan & Arthur Babson

Distinguished Young Conservation Hero

Jeremy Lynch
Jenna Townsend
Cameron & Kristen Carver
Isabelle Busch
Aruna Gauba
Luci Johnston
Paloma Russ

Founders Recognition for Outstanding Achievement

WILD Foundation
Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN)
George & Mancy Ohrstrom
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI)
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Distinguished Leadership Recognition

Vicki Gourley
Adina Savin
Daniel B. Beringer
Dr. Roswitha K. Smale
Richard Wiese
Sally F. Davidson
Dr. Stephen J. O’Brien
Susan Janin

Distinguished Conservation Partner

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Dallas Zoo
Disney Conservation Fund
Foundation for Human Rabies Education and Eradication (FHREE)
Indianapolis Zoo
SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund
Cornell University
Miami University

Habitat Builder

Gregor & Cecilia Freund
Kenneth & Gabrielle Adelman
Polly Horton Hix & Tony Fair

Distinguished Challenger

Angela Weisskopf
Brookes Browne
Bruce G. Geary Foundation
Christine Osekoski
Elaine & Frank Besson
Eric & Luann Berman
Florence & Steven Goldby
Jack & Sheri Overall
James Poley & Joyce Kaneshiro
Jason & Jodee Ferree
Katherine & James Snowden
Marci Rubin
Olga Pierce

Outstanding Service

Patricia Tricorache

Distinguished Development Volunteer

Beth Leonard
David Dolan
Dr. Margarita Woc Colburn
Karen Terio
Nancy Boynton
Ron Marks
Rick McKenna
Alexis Cox, DVM
Darin Collins, DVM & Woodland Park Zoo
Kathy Gervais, DVM
Toni Piccolotti

Distinguished Program Volunteer

Alan Feldstein
Alex Shipp
Elizabeth Marquart
Marisa Katnić
Paola Bari

Outstanding Sponsor of the Year

Zegrahm Expeditions
Columbia Sportswear Company

Sponsors

Presenting and Research Sponsors