Havasi Wilderness Foundation Fund Raising Event Spotlights Environment Awareness and Education

About 85 friends, relatives, business associates, and interested community residents attended the event on September 15 at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa in Westlake Village.

Mira Reverente from Patch.com attended and wrote: “Agoura Mayor Harry Schwarz’ remarks echoed Havasi’s sentiments as he described growing up in West Hollywood with its scarcity of open spaces. “We’re the gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains with 42 percent of our area designated as open space,” he said. “We’re lucky, because we have the great outdoors where we can do a lot of recreational activities.”

Our guest of honor was actress and staunch environmentalist, Tippi Hedren. She was presented with our Annual Humanitarian Award and a check for her Roar Foundation. She showed slides and talked about her involvement in the Shambala Preserve, where she currently resides. “I live right there amidst the large cats, so I wake up to their roars every morning,” she said.

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY OF THIS EVENT

Testimonials were given by Stephen Vodantis from the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Alyson Goodall from the California Resource Center, and a child, Tabitha Johnson, from Zootopia expressed her experiences with wildlife.

An audio-visual presentation summarizing the foundation’s two-year existence was presented. In addition, the silent and live auctions showcased eclectic memorabilia, limited edition prints and signed sports collectibles.  Other fund raising activities included a raffle, door prizes, and a game on how many birds are in the photo.

Guests commented about how much they enjoyed the music, program, and food. Our event photographer, Paul Ehrlich, was literally everywhere indoors and outdoors taking pictures as the evening unfolded. Click to see the photos.

As each guest left, they were presented with a copy of our essential field guide book My Adventure in the Chaparral. Our next project will be a book on the wetlands.

Thank you to our event planner, Liza Naguib, the Kiwanis Club volunteers, our relatives, friends, business associates, and interested residents for their support in attending, donating, and giving of their time. Thank you for the press coverage in the Ventura County Star, patch.com, and Society Magazine.

Thank you to our sponsors REI and Titan Solar and the following companies:

Amy’s Baubles

Bare Escentuals

California Science Center

Camarillo Travel

Robert Ellis Studio City

Four Seasons Resort and Spa

Thomas Grant, Fine Art

Lassen’s Natural Foods

Janet Milhomme, Fine Art Photography

Riggio Insurance Agency, Inc.

Ryan Phillips Photography

Specialty Merchandise Corporation

Studio Gallery

Thomasville Furniture

Thousand Oaks Civic Theatre Arts

Trader Joe’s

Yamato’s Restaurant