A Celebrity Fundraiser to Support Long-Term Conservation of Areas Affected by Wildfires; Host Committee: Sean Penn, Leila George, Slash, Jacki Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Phoebe Tonkin, Rainn Wilson and Holiday Reinhorn, Radha Mitchell, Ron Baldwin, Aileen Getty, Vanessa Wruble, Soleil Moon Frye, Greta Scacchi, and Vincent D’Onofrio; With Special Performance by Shania Twain
February 27, 2020 (LOS ANGELES, CA) — On March 8th, the L.A. Zoo will host a one-night-only celebrity fundraiser for Global Wildlife Conservation’s Australia Wildfire Fund, produced by Leila George and Ron Baldwin. “Meet Me in Australia” will bring together passionate animal and climate activists with the goal to raise money for an online campaign to promote long-term recovery. A-list Australian and American celebrities have been invited to participate in this very special event for a global cause, which will take place within the Los Angeles Zoo’s Australia area.
A-list Australian and American celebrities have been invited to participate in this very special event for a global cause, which will take place within the Los Angeles Zoo’s Australia area.
SPEAKER LINE-UP
Leila George – Producer of Event
Dr. Don Church – President, Global Wildlife Conservation
Tim Faulkner – President, Aussie Ark
Laura Friedman – California State Assemblymember Friedman, who serves as the Chair of the Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee, has been a passionate advocate for climate resiliency, wildfire prevention, and protecting endangered species.
Dr. Jake Owens – Director of Conservation, Los Angeles Zoo
Beth Pratt – California Regional Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation
Katie Eder – Executive Director, Future Coalition
WHO
Host Committee: Sean Penn, Leila George, Ron Baldwin, Jacki Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Phoebe Tonkin, Rainn Wilson and Holiday Reinhorn, Radha Mitchell, Aileen Getty, Greta Scacchi, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Soleil Moon Frye.
Special acoustic performance by Shania Twain.
The State of California will be presenting California firefighters with a special certificate of recognition after fighting fires in Australian bush regions.
This event is produced by actress Leila George, Ron Baldwin, Brody Derich, Chloe Derich.
Special Thanks to Ron Conway Family and Milliman. Cocktails courtesy of Casamigos Tequila; wine courtesy of Gia Coppola Wine; beer courtesy of Little Creatures.
WHEN
Sunday, March 8; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
WHAT
The event will take place in the L.A. Zoo’s Australia area, which is one large loop with Australian animal habitats such as koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devil, and more.
Animal ambassadors will be dotted around the area to interact with guests. Catering will feature Australian-themed vegetarian bites.
As a special highlight, there will be an acoustic musical performance from Shania Twain.
WHY
To support long-term conservation of areas in Australia affected by wildfires.
All proceeds will go to the Australia Wildfire Fund, which is managed by Global Wildlife Conservation and implemented on the ground by three Australian charities: AussieArk, WIRES, and Bush Heritage Australia. These Australian charities will use the funds to assist local firefighting efforts, support affected local communities, rescue and recover wildlife, implement long-term solutions to restore and repopulate unique ecosystems destroyed by the wildfires, increase climate resilience and reduce the threat of future wildfires.
10% of all proceeds will go to #SaveLACougars, a California-based campaign led by the National Wildlife Federation.
WHERE
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
HOW TO DONATE
By selling tickets by invitation-only to the “Meet Me in Australia” event, it is the goal to kickstart an online campaign for continued donations to the Australia Wildfire Fund HERE.
ABOUT LEILA GEORGE
Leila George is an Australian-American actress residing in Los Angeles. The daughter of Vincent D’Onofrio and Greta Scacchi, George was raised in London and Sydney before moving to New York to study acting at The Lee Strasberg Institute. In 2018, she starred in Peter Jackson’s fantasy epic Mortal Engines, based on the acclaimed novel series of the same name. In 2019, she co-starred in The Kid with Chris Pratt, Dane DeHaan, and Ethan Hawke (Lionsgate; directed by Vincent D’Onofrio). She is a series regular on TNT’s Animal Kingdom, playing “Young Smurf,” which is currently shooting season 5 in Los Angeles.
ABOUT L.A. ZOO
The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.8 million visitors each year, is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare and has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife. Learn more at LAZoo.org.
ABOUT GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION
The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 55,000 member households representing more than 210,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIA WILDFIRE FUND
The Australia Wildfire Fund is an international response to the catastrophic bushfires raging through the country, it was set up by the Global Wildlife Conservation and launched with a $3 million USD commitment from Earth Alliance. Learn more at AussieArk.org.
ABOUT GLOBAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (GWC)
GWC conserves the diversity of life on Earth by safeguarding wildlands, protecting wildlife and supporting guardians. We maximize our impact through scientific research, biodiversity exploration, habitat conservation, protected area management, wildlife crime prevention, endangered species recovery, and conservation leadership cultivation. Learn more at GlobalWildlife.org
ABOUT #SAVELACOUGARS
#SaveLACougars is an historic $85 million capital campaign led by the National Wildlife Federation and its partners with the vision to build California’s first freeway wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway in LA County. Once built, the wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon will be the largest crossing in the world. It will reconnect the Santa Monica Mountains to contiguous areas of conserved land north of the freeway and beyond, allowing wildlife marooned on either side of the 101 the connection they need to move and thrive, and help save beloved local mountain lion population facing the threat of extinction. Learn more at SaveLACougars.org.
ABOUT FUTURE COALITION
Future Coalition is a network of youth-led organizations and youth organizers across the US that fosters community and collaboration while providing young people with the tools, resources, and support to power their ideas and amplify their impact. Since launching in fall of 2018, Future Coalition has been organizing young people around a variety of issues including climate change, voting, and gun violence prevention. The coalition has grown to include more than 40+ youth-led organizations and thousands of youth leaders and changemakers across the country. Learn more at FutureCoalition.org.
As a major force in the youth climate movement, Future Coalition coordinates the US Youth Climate Strike Coalition, the group that organizes the national campaigns for the climate strikes in the US and led the coordination of the historic September 20 climate strike with nearly a million participants striking in over 1350 locations around the US.
ABOUT EARTH ALLIANCE
Earth Alliance is co-chaired by environmental activist and Academy Award®-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, businesswoman and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, and investor and philanthropist Brian Sheth. Earth Alliance will partner with other nonprofits, communities, government agencies, and funders who are on diverse missions to help save the planet. Learn more at EarthAlliance.org.