Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

chimp rescue

the banana

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In case you don’t click through to the fundraising page, below is a visual of our 2nd Anniversary Fundraising progress. Can you tell I’m excited about this today? I really think we can do this!

In addition to all of the things you can buy and ways you can donate I mentioned in the previous post, there are even more ways you can give. Today is volunteer Kim’s birthday. She’s set up a birthday wish through Facebook that you can donate to and wish her a happy birthday.

And I’m turning 37 tomorrow (yikes!). I’ve also set up a birthday wish through Facebook. I really want those windows as a birthday gift for me, Jody and Negra!

Fundraising Update – OMG! $10,000 in 1 week

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This week was really incredible in terms of donations towards our 2nd Anniversary Fundraising. We received a $5,000 grant from the Tony Stewart Foundation (share this page with all of your race-loving friends) and over $5,000 in individual donations!! This means  we have only $17,332 to raise by June 13th to reach our ultimate goal of $45,000 and three more chimp-proof windows. We are getting so close! Don’t slow down now!

There are two new supporter fundraising pages:

Jeani Goodrich (no relation to me) has a Firstgiving page set up. With every $25 donation, she’ll send you something special, starting with wood-burned pins made by Diane Frederick of Fredericks Firegraphics (see the Foxie pin to the left.)

Donate now to get your pick of chimpanzee for the pin.

Cindy Marks has set up an Etsy store to sell handmade  bracelets with the chimps’ names on them. All net proceeds will go to the sanctuary. Each bracelet includes a picture card of the chimpanzee you select. Most bracelets include African wedding beads to honor their heritage.

She has created a very sweet BFF Missy and Annie bracelet (see photo at left) with intertwined strands representing Annie and Missy’s devotion to each other.

Shop now and check back often for new designs!

And don’t forget these other ways that you can donate to the sanctuary while supporting those who are raising funds:

You can also make a direct donation to the sanctuary. 45 days to go…. we can reach our goal with your help! Thank you, everyone!

Spring!

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Warm weather has finally arrived. Yesterday J.B. removed one wall of the greenhouse panels.

Negra was ready

Negra spent yesterday and today in her spot enjoying the view

While we enjoyed the view of Negra with the direct sunlight on her face

She also spent some time in her favorite pose, taking a nap

Doesn’t this close up of Negra just compel you to contribute (and tell all of your friends to donate) to the 2nd Anniversary Fundraising to celebrate Negra’s birthday and 2 years in sanctuary?

Thank you to everyone who is working hard to give Negra and all of the Cle Elum Seven this second chance on life at the sanctuary.

Negra pushing Missy around

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Below is a video of Negra and Missy playing in front of one of the windows that will soon be replaced with chimp-proof glass thanks to LUSH and the winter blog fundraising.

Update on our 3-more window Anniversary Fundraising soon – some exciting news to share!

What Sanctuary Means to Negra

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Yesterday, we sent out a letter from Sarah to e-news subscribers about what sanctuary means for Negra and asking people to contribute to our anniversary fundraising. Share the letter by emailing it to friends, sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc. You can do all of that from the letter posted on our site here.

Be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter if you aren’t already. If you think you’ve signed up before and are still not receiving newsletters, email me.

The anniversary fundraising is off to a solid start. I’ve heard from a few more people with great fundraising ideas. I’m very excited! Margaret has already set up a Firstgiving page. She’s giving a card featuring a painting she has done of one of the Cle Elum Seven chimpanzees for donations of just $30. Keep the ideas and support coming and together let’s give Negra a little more sunshine.

For all you Negra fans

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Another great greenhouse day. The ladies groomed and played out there all day, switching partners frequently.

Negra hanging out in the greenhouse sun:

web Negra close up lip face outsdie greenhouse sun_MG_5849

Missy grooming Negra while Annie groomed Jody nearby:

web Negra Missy groom hands outside greenhouse_MG_5914

Missy starting to turn the hand grooming into a little game:

web Negra Missy play hands outside playface greenhouse_MG_5920

Negra responding by playing back:

web negra missy play hands bite outside greenhouse_MG_5919

Missy sticking both of her feet up for Negra to play bite:

web Negra Missy play bite feet outside greenhouse_MG_5924

Negra taking a mid-morning nap:

web Negra sleep nest outside greenhouse hold feet_MG_5931

It’s been said before, but each day I am amazed at how the greenhouse has transformed the Cle Elum Seven’s lives. Thank you again to Karen and Don Young and all who made the greenhouse possible!

Luck of the Cle Elum Seven

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Today, on Lucky St. Patrick’s Day, we are launching a big fundraising drive that will end on the chimpanzees’ 2nd anniversary in sanctuary and Negra’s honorary birthday – June 13, 2011. We’re announcing it to blog readers first so you can be the first to participate.

Thanks to LUSH and the blog drive initiated by Anna K., we will soon be replacing three caged windows with chimp-proof glass. We want to be able to replace three more for Negra and all of the Cle Elum Seven, but we need to make sure we cover our operating expenses first.

We do everything we can to keep our costs low, including making use of our incredible volunteer community and a great network of in-kind donations. This helps us spend 90 cents out of every dollar donated directly on our programs! The first $30,00 of the donations we receive over the next three months will go toward the day-to-day costs of caring for the chimpanzees, but we’d like to raise even more for some extra sunshine for the Cle Elum Seven. So, between today and June 13th, if we raise $35,000, we’ll replace one window, $40,000 two windows, and $45,000 three caged windows with chimpanzee-proof glass. You all know how much the chimps love the glass windows, so I know you’ll be motivated to help us reach our ultimate goal.

The first $4500 in donations will be matched by a pledge from our board of directors and staff, so we’re well on our way already! Perhaps blog readers can take on this initial challenge before we announce the fundraising to a wider audience next week. We are including income from all sources starting today – online, checks sent through the mail, facebook donations, money raised through Firstgiving, new Chimpanzee Pals, Sponsor-a-Day donations, etc. Even if you don’t have the funds to donate yourself, you can participate. Start a Firstgiving page and recruit others to donate – they are easy to set up and include fundraising tips when you sign up for your page. You could also have a fundraising dinner at your house, hold a garage sale, sell your wares on ebay, or do whatever is in your heart to raise funds for your chimpanzee friends. Let us know what you’re planning by emailing. We’d be happy to send you brochures or anything else you might need to share with others.

We will be awarding prizes to those who raise the most money, both through personal donations and through recruiting others to donate. We will provide regular updates on the blog, and you can also check out the progress and get more details on our Help Us Fundraise page.

Please join the fun in providing for the Cle Elum Seven and celebrating two years in sanctuary and give today!