SEATTLE - Woodland Park Zoo’s Jungle Party presented by Wells Fargo was a roaring success æ even Friday’s rain didn’t keep people away! Nearly 850 civic, community and philanthropic leaders attended the zoo’s premiere fundraiser, co-chaired by Gaelynn and Mike McGavick, to contribute over $1.2 million dollars to support the zoo’s animal care, education and wildlife conservation projects.

Jungle Party proceeds also included $164,000 in contributions toward this year’s beneficiary of the Fund-Our-Future Fund: Woodland Park Zoo’s award-winning statewide outreach program, Wild Wise.

Woodland Park Zoo’s 28th Annual Jungle Party was themed Walkabout the Stars – Australia. It was an unforgettable evening with engaging entertainment, exhibit tours, a gourmet sit-down dinner by Ray’s Boathouse Catering, appetizers served by Seattle’s top chefs from Cascadia Restaurant, Fairmont Olympic Hotel, and Nell’s Restaurant, a Specialty Drink Bar by Restaurant Zoë, and live and silent auctions consisting of over 500 auction items. Live auction highlights included: a Georgia Gerber bronze sculpture of a kangaroo with a joey in her pouch created specifically for this year’s Jungle Party which sold for $17,000; dinner for 10 with Woodland Park Zoo’s grizzlies for $10,000; and a barbeque with renowned actor and screenwriter John Cleese at his Santa Barbara home for $8,000.

“ The generosity of this community is amazing! The zoo and the community we serve are blessed by such loyal and generous support,” says Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Dr. Deborah Jensen. “Jungle Party directly supports the zoo’s efforts to connect kids with nature and help create a sustainable future for wildlife.”

The zoo’s fundraiser also helps to ensure this cherished community resource continues to make a difference in the survival of threatened and endangered species in Washington state and around the world. Woodland Park currently participates in 45 field conservation projects in more than 29 countries across the globe.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, top award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.