Sunset at the Zoo Celebrates 2008 Year of the Frog

ROYAL OAK, Mich., April 21, 2008 – The Detroit Zoological Society’s annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser takes place on Friday, June 20, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.  Presented by General Motors and Saturn, the year’s wildest party features a strolling supper, zoo-themed martinis, live entertainment, dancing, and live and silent auctions.  The event is held rain or shine, and the Zoo closes at 2 p.m. that day in preparation for the festivities.

Over 2,000 Zoo supporters are expected to attend the 2008 Year of the Frog-themed event.  A strolling supper offers tastes of signature dishes from 40 of the area’s finest restaurants, the Jerry Ross Band entertains throughout the evening, and guests have access to the Zoo’s award-winning animal habitats as the sun goes down.  Attire for the evening is “elegant summer chic”. 

The live auction includes “zoo-nique” items such as a gourmet dinner for 12 with the polar bears at the Zoo’s Arctic Ring of Life, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour for four with the Zoo’s night staff, the Ultimate Zoo Birthday Party and Overnight Experience for 20, and a custom piece of zoo-themed jewelry from Jules R. Schubot Jewellers. 

Tickets for Sunset at the Zoo range from $125 to $500 per person.  A Benefactor Party will be held on Tuesday, May 20, at the Bloomfield Hills home of Jennifer and David Fischer for those purchasing $500 tickets.  A VIP Reception will be held at the Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center on Friday, June 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., for those purchasing $500 and $250 tickets.  Tickets can be ordered by phone at (248) 541-5717 ext. 3750 or online at www.detroitzoo.org.

Sunset at the Zoo is also supported by Comerica Bank, Crain Communications, Dining in the Wild!, Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, P.C., JP Morgan Chase, Sue and Alan J. Kaufman, Strategic Staffing Solutions and Unique Expressions.  Co-chairs for this year’s event are Beverly Bantom of Farmington Hills, Margaret Ogden of Grosse Pointe and Lois Shaevsky of Bloomfield Hills.

2008 Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them.  The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

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 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 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. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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