The year’s "Out of Africa" party kicked off with a VIP reception sponsored by JPMorganChase. Metro Detroit’s most stylish patrons, dressed in "safari chic," danced to the cool sounds of the Jerry Ross Band, enjoyed gourmet food from more than 40 of Michigan’s finest restaurants and sampled delicious Zoo-themed martinis. During the evening, guests bid on trips, jewelry and other specialty items at the live and silent auctions, and tried their luck with "Sunset Keys" to unlock prize boxes.

This year’s co-chairs included Beverly Bantom of Farmington Hills, Melanie Duquesnel of Northville, Linda Gillum of Bloomfield Hills, Margie Ogden of Grosse Pointe and Lois Shaevsky of Bloomfield Hills. Fox 2 News personalities Alan Lee and Fanchon Stinger emceed the event.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.

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