GLAZA Honors Betty White, Long Time L.A. Zoo Supporter at Beastly Ball June 19, 2010

BETTY WHITE,
LONG TIME LA ZOO SUPPORTER AND TRUSTEE,
HONORED AT GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION'S
40TH ANNUAL BEASTLY BALL
Event Co-Chairs Include
Sir Elton John, Jane Goodall, Jay Leno, Sandra Bullock,
Alex Trebek, Michael Feinstein and Jamie Lee Curtis
NCIS Star Pauley Perrette is Evening's MC
Fund-Raiser, Hailed as "One of the Best Parties in Los Angeles,"
Takes Place Under the Stars and Benefits LA Zoo
Evening's Fare Served by Top LA Restaurants
Saturday, June 19, 2010, 6 p.m., Los Angeles Zoo
Sir Elton John, Jane Goodall, Jay Leno, Sandra Bullock, Alex Trebek, Michael Feinstein and Jamie Lee Curtis are among the co-chairs for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's (GLAZA) 40th Annual Beastly Ball honoring long-time supporter Betty White on Saturday, June 19, 2010, 6 p.m., under the stars at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. NCIS star Pauley Perrette serves as the evening's MC. White, the entertainment industry icon, is a long-time GLAZA Trustee and was named “Ambassador to the Animals of the City of Los Angeles” by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2006. In a March 2010 CNN interview, White mentioned "her 46-year partnership with the Los Angeles Zoo, calling it one of her two loves in life alongside show business."
"Betty White is synonymous with the Los Angeles Zoo," says GLAZA President Connie Morgan. "Her heart and her advocacy for the animals that share our earth help drive us to excellence. Hers is a peerless example of leadership from the Hollywood community, and honoring her is our great joy."
"Betty is truly one of the greatest fans of the L.A. Zoo," concurs Los Angeles Zoo Director John Lewis. "She knows our animals and staff on a first name basis, and when she's not on television or in a movie, you can usually find her here at the Zoo. Betty shares the belief that our mission is to nurture wildlife and enrich the human experience. She's been a part of this institution for over four decades and an integral force behind many of our new exhibits which nurture our animal residents and have provided tremendous educational experiences for millions of visitors."
Pauley Perrette is currently known to millions around the world as “Abby Sciuto” the brilliant and offbeat forensic scientist on CBS’s NCIS, the #1 rated drama. Additional credits include Almost Famous, The Ring, 24, CSI, Murder One, The Drew Carey Show and many independent films.
The Beastly Ball is known as "one of L.A.'s biggest and most popular fund-raisers" (FOX News) and "one of the best parties in Los Angeles" (KCAL TV News). Guests, invited to dress in casual or safari attire, stroll through the Zoo after hours viewing its inhabitants, dining on bountiful fare provided by some of L.A.'s most popular restaurants, enjoying entertainment by world music groups, and dancing to a live band. There are also animal feedings and "animal walk-abouts," which include chats with keepers and the chance to observe small animals up close, plus silent and live auctions with hundreds of remarkable items and one-of-a-kind opportunities. Celebrity auctioneers Fritz Coleman, the popular KNBC TV weathercaster, and comedian Jimmy Pardo conduct the live auction. Participating restaurants, all donating their services, are Bar Celona, Café 140 South, Celestino Ristorante, Clancy's Crab Broiler, El Cholo Restaurant – Los Angeles, Fabiolus Café, Green Street Restaurant, Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana, La Poubelle Bistro and Bar, lxTapa Cantina, Maison Akira, Malo Cantina, Pink's Famous Hot Dogs, Villa Sorriso and Yamashiro.
The Beastly Ball is presented by GLAZA, which for more than four decades has successfully supported the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife. As a major cultural and entertainment resource for Southern California, the Zoo is a place of beauty and inspiration and a catalyst for discovery of the natural world for children of all ages. GLAZA funds Los Angeles Zoo exhibits, plant and animal species conservation, capital projects, and education and community outreach programs. GLAZA currently has 72,000 member households, the largest membership base of a cultural organization in Los Angeles, and boasts a volunteer corps of over 900.
Tickets to the Beastly Ball are $1,000 per person; individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities at higher levels are also available. The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles' Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. For tickets and information, call (323) 644-4753. www.lazoo.org

Official Website: http://www.lazoo.org