Yesterday was awesome. At our 2016 HOOT! gala, we had an exciting auction item – the “Golden Shovel Groundbreaking” with the opportunity to “fling the first shovel of dirt at the groundbreaking for the expansion.”
Yesterday, we were able to finally have that ceremonial groundbreaking!
There were two separate donors who won the item at the auction – Chris Gossard (and his wife Lee Ann) and Pat Cattolico. Chris and Pat donned some (also-ceremonial) protective gear and indulged us in a photo shoot.
Chris, Pat, Pat’s sister, former board member Sharon Burke, current board member Jessica Mayhew and her partner Chad then helped to put out a watermelon, cherry, and carrot forage on Young’s Hill for the chimpanzees’ dinner.
Negra was the first out the raceway as she has been for almost all hill forages so far this summer! As a stationary photographer, it was hard to keep up with her as 45+ year-old Negra climbed structures (including the new structure we are informally calling Escher for M.C. Esher), waded through the tall grass, and generally acted with her newfound adventurous spirit.
Burrito found the stash hidden in the treat rock:
as Annie hung around:
It was a great day. Every day that Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy, and Negra spend at the sanctuary is great.
The staff and board of directors feel so fortunate to have such generous, fun, and loyal donors that choose to support the chimpanzees and the future plans for the sanctuary, and yesterday we were reminded again of just how wonderful CSNW supporters are.
Countdown to the start of construction: 15 days!
