We’re so happy to be able to join Don Young in this celebratory day of sanctuary in honor of his wife, Karen, on her birthday! Don shared this wonderful message:
“I would like to honor my wife, Karen, on her 80th birthday. I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, and she told me she wants the sanctuary to throw a birthday party for the Cle Elum 7 and the Wildlife Waystation 9. She also wants to make sure they get avocado cups!
Karen has always loved animals and filled our home with ones who needed to be rescued. Her introduction to the plight of research chimps began with our son, Ryan, introducing her to NEAVS and the Great Ape Protection Act and with contributing to other sanctuaries in the US.
In 2008, she was searching the word “chimpanzees” on the web and discovered a brand new sanctuary called CSNW. The 7 chimps had just arrived in Cle Elum. She decided to sponsor Foxie and spent a year finding troll dolls for her! She also wrote an advocacy and educational book for children called “A Chimpanzee Tale”.
In the summer of 2009, we took a trip to Cle Elum to meet the 7 chimps and to also meet Diana and J.B. They shared their vision of the sanctuary with us, and the rest is history.
It has been thrilling to see how each project has contributed to the well being of the chimps. We both watched how 7 broken, malnourished, tortured research chimps developed into happy, healthy chimps who have the freedom to roam a two acre hill and explore with the open sky above them.
It has been such an honor to contribute to the growth of the sanctuary and to see Diana and J.B.’s vision develop into a beautiful home for 16 lucky chimps with more to come on the horizon.
I want to wish Karen a Happy 80th and to thank her for taking me along on this journey.”
-Don
Happy Birthday, Karen, from all of us here at the sanctuary! We hope you have a beautiful day!
Thank you, both, so much for continuing to hold the chimpanzees in your hearts and for helping to make it possible for their spirits to bloom immeasurably through all the seasons of their lives.
Young’s Hill (pre-the latest expansion):
Missy:
Annie:
Foxie, Missy, Annie and Burrito:
Negra:
Missy, Foxie and Jamie:
Our beloved Jo, who we like to think still watches over her family every day as they venture onto Young’s Hill, just as she always has:
Burrito:
Ryan’s Lookout, built in memory of Don and Karen’s son and the newest structure on The Bray, the outdoor habitat (built in honor of James Douglas) for Rayne’s group, which they’ve very recently begun exploring for the first time!
Rayne:
Gordo:
Terry:
Willy B:
Jamie:
Kathleen says
Dear Karen, I send you Happy Joyful Birthday wishes for today!! May the joy of today last through the year. Avocado cups sound yummy.
Thank you, Karen and Don, not just for your generous hearts or today’s celebration but for all the adventures that occur on Young’s Hill. It wouldn’t be sanctuary without Young’s Hill! Perhaps both Ryan and Jody are now patrolling together keeping things safe for their friends.
Sherry P says
What a beautiful tribute this is! Happy Birthday, Karen .. wishing you all things bright and beautiful on this (and every) day.
Tobin says
Thank you, Karen and Don, for your generous support to the Sanctuary during the time that our beloved Jody lived there. Please be assured that your namesake hill has been put to good use by its tenants, old and more recently-arrived. On behalf of Jody and her friends and next-door neighbors, thank you again. May you enjoy your birthday and a new year of life.
Linda C says
I hope it has been a great birthday, Karen. Thanks for everything, both of you
Marcie says
Happy birthday Karen. Hope it has been a good day for you.
marianne says
How wonderful to have such awsome supporters of the sanctuary, thank you for all you have done. Your name is mentioned many times in the blog and that picture of Negra, just sitting and enjoying Yo(ur)ung’s Hill says it all.
I hope your birthday was the best Karen.
Eileen Hennessy says
I just purchased a copy of “A Chimpanzee Tale” by Karen Young. It is fantastic! Such an informative book for children and adults alike and the illustrations are wonderful! Thank you for guiding me to this lovely book that introduces readers to the many ways they may help improve the lives of captive chimpanzees and learn how to preserve these wonderful animals in the wild! Excellent book!