On Thursday, November 13, 2014, the Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo gathered 150 guests for an elegant evening of treasures and temptations at ZooLA 2014, a distinctive and sophisticated live auction. The elegant setting of The Casino served as the venue where more than $270,000 was raised to support exciting initiatives of Lincoln Park Zoo.
The intimate evening unfolded in one of Chicago’s most exclusive private clubs with the support of the following underwriters: Peter Francis Geraci and Geraci Law LLC, Denise and John Ginascol, and Abby Zanarini and Don Funk.
Combining an inviting cocktail reception with an engaging live auction, ZooLA attracted a mix of business, social and civic leaders in support of the city’s beloved landmark. The co-chairs for the evening were Susan Erler, Lisa Genesen and Karen Peterson.
Peterson reflected on the wonderful evening, “On behalf of my fellow co-chairs and the Women’s Board, we would like to thank our sponsors and guests for their overwhelming generosity. It is their support on evenings like this that helps keep the zoo free and accessible to all.”
Proceeds from ZooLA will support the Women’s Board pledge to support the zoo, including projects such as Regenstein Macaque Forest, opening later this fall, and the new South African penguin habitat, set to open in 2016. These are just two of the upcoming innovations that will reinforce the zoo’s mission to connect visitors with wildlife and nature while deepening the zoo’s worldwide leadership in animal care, science and conservation.
Photography by Violet Dominek of Reilly Photography
Karen Peterson, Susan Erler, Lisa Genesen (co-chairs)
Myra and John Reilly
John Mostofi, Kevin Bell, John Ettelson
Karen Eisenbart, Denise Ashurt
Greg and Mary Pearlman
