Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Sponsor-a-day

In memory of Koko, a very special gorilla

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As you may have heard, The Gorilla Foundation sadly shared that Koko the gorilla passed away in her sleep on June 19th. People the world over have been moved by Koko and her story, as well as the two other gorillas at The Gorilla Foundation, Michael, who became part of Project Koko, learning American Sign Language with Koko until his passing in 2000, and Ndume, who was brought to The Gorilla Foundation from the Cincinnatti Zoo in the hopes of forming a bond with Koko, and currently still resides there.

As humans we tend to be intrigued, if not deeply passionate about our fellow great apes. We often see so much of ourselves in them, but also so much of them in ourselves. We are mesmerized by the beautiful, creative, unique, complicated, intelligent and emotional individuals they are.

We’ve been touched this week by friends of  the chimpanzees who have chosen to make a difference in their lives by sponsoring days of sanctuary as a way to honor Koko and the unique person she was.

Arva Roland sponsored today’s day of sanctuary “in memory of Koko, a very special gorilla.” Our hearts and thoughts are with all those who cared for and loved Koko.

Koko (photo credit to Ron Cohn and The Gorilla Foundation):

Arva, thank you for your compassion and for remembering Koko today. Your heartfelt gift makes a lasting difference in the lives of the chimpanzees and we appreciate you including them as you honor Koko and her life.

Negra:

Burrito:

Foxie and Jamie:

Happy Birthday, Dan!

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This day of sanctuary for the chimps was sponsored by Cheryl Eklund in celebration of her husband, Dan Eklund, on his birthday with this special message:

“Happy Birthday to my wonderful animal loving husband. All Our Love, Cheri and Judee”

Cheryl thank you so much for thinking of the chimpanzees today as you all celebrate Dan’s birthday!

Happy Birthday, from all the primates here at the sanctuary, Dan! We hope it’s your best one yet! We so appreciate you making a difference in the chimps’ lives on your special day.

Missy is able to celebrate every single day to the fullest, thanks to people like you. May your heart be just as full.

So much to celebrate!

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Our dear friend, Kathleen Corby, sponsored this extra special day of celebration and shared this beautiful message:

“Two very special reasons for me to sponsor lucky June 13th: 1. I want to celebrate beautiful, remarkable, beloved Negra on her 45th birthday. The very first time I saw Negra she stole my heart. Knowing her past makes me admire and respect her all the more as I watch her courageously take on new adventures each year. Can’t wait for Negra to surprise me this year and many more years to come….Happy Birthday dear girl! 2. I am excited to celebrate with you from afar 10 magnificent years of Hope… Love… Home… Sanctuary at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. Little did Missy, Annie, Negra, Jody, Foxie, Jamie, and Burrito know that the long trip from PA to WA ten years ago would change their lives for the better forever! You have given them their dignity and you have restored their wild inner souls. Happy Sanctuary Anniversary Day and much love always!”

Kathleen, we are just so lucky to have you as part of our chimp family. From our hearts, thank you for always sharing yours with the chimps, with us all. You make a lasting difference in their lives and we so appreciate the love and reverence you hold for each of them. Thank you for helping us celebrate such a special day!

If you follow us on Facebook, you may have seen us live this morning as the Birthday Queen started her special day off enjoying a homemade breakfast of sweet potato and berry pancakes served in the sunny greenhouse! If Negra could have ALL the bread and carbs, she would be a happy woman. Wouldn’t we all, Neggie, wouldn’t we all.

Happy Birthday, Negra, we love you!

And to Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy and Negra, Happy Anniversary!! Ten years in your sanctuary home bouyed by the love and support of so many near and far. You surprise, delight, teach and humble us every single day and we couldn’t love you more.

Jamie:

Annie and Missy:

Foxie:

Burrito:

Annie, Foxie and Jody:

Happy Birthday, Donna!

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Donna Dinsmore sponsors today for the chimpanzees each year and sent this sweet note:  “This is my birthday and I would love to have the chimps celebrate it with me!”

Donna, first of all, Happy Birthday!! It’s such heart-lifting and inspiring thing when people choose to make a difference in the lives of others as a way to celebrate their own lives. And the fact that you do this each year for the chimps is incredible. We so appreciate you wanting to share your own special day with the chimps and your generosity and compassion make a lasting difference for them. And you are in good company as we look to the week ahead. With hearts full of gratitude and excitement, we will be celebrating Negra’s 45th birthday AND the chimps’ 10th anniversary in their sanctuary home! Thank you for starting things off in such a lovely way, Donna!

We hope you have a beautiful day full of all that you love!

Jamie:

Besties, Annie and Missy:

Annie:

Foxie, Jody, and Burrito:

Queen Negra:

Happy Birthday, Karen!

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Julie Olson sponsored today’s day of sanctuary for the chimps and her sister, Karen Olson! She shared this message about her gift:

“I wanted to sponsor a day for the chimps in honor of my sister’s birthday. I know this is a gift that truly means a lot to her. She loves all creatures great and small!”

Julie, thank you so much for always thinking of the chimpanzees and including them in your family celebrations!

Karen, we hope this is the best birthday yet! We’re so happy to celebrate your special day with you and are so grateful to you and Julie for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts and for the difference you make in their lives.

Happy Birthday from all of us here at the sanctuary! This guy is always up for a celebration (as long as it involves food, playing and food!):

In memory of Robert Ruggeri

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Rachel Ruggeri sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in honor of her father, Robert Ruggeri. Rachel shared this touching message:

“I saw on the blog today the word…independence. And no single word could better describe my father, Robert Ruggeri, who would have been 82 years old on this day. Though he passed away five years ago, we think of him each and every day and we are grateful for the independence he fostered in each of his children. He loved all animals, most especially chimpanzees, and he would be so happy to know the gang of seven was discovering their independence in the hills of the sanctuary amid the Eastern Washington skies. “Freedom over security” was among one of the many of my father’s favorite sayings. Like the gang, here’s to hoping that my father has found the freedom and independence he so desperately craved…”

Rachel, thank you for sharing such a loving and powerful tribute about your father. It seems beautifully apropos for the chimpanzees. We are so honored to celebrate Robert’s memory with you and your family.

Ten years in sanctuary, and the chimpanzees continue to explore and embrace freedom and independence in their own meaningful ways more and more with each passing day. And we couldn’t be more honored to bear witness to their daily self-discoveries of bravery, adventure, joy, love, and healing.

Foxie relishing the accomplishment of her first courageous climb to the top of Twister:

Negra bravely traversing the shaky bridge for possibly the first time:

Annie, first to the top of the new structure:

Jody, enjoying the freedom to rest:

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

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The chimps’ good friend, Lisa Stuverud, sponsored today for them as a way to celebrate her own special day! Lisa shared this lovely message:

 “I turned 60 this year, a HUGE accomplishment for me so I made a list of many things I was grateful for, things that had helped me get to 60. One of the things was ‘I am grateful for having passions in my life especially when they sustain me’ and today the passion I have for all animals especially Jamie, Foxie, Burrito, Annie, Missy, Jody, Negra and everyone in and around Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporting their passion will sustain me. I have often said that these seven chimpanzees and the people who selflessly support them give far more than they could ever take by showing such resilience, healing, love, kindness and devotion. Today, that will sustain me once again and I am so grateful to have this shared passion in my life.”

Lisa, thank you so much for such a lovely, inspiration-filled gift for the chimps! We are so incredibly fortunate that the chimps are surrounded by so much love and passion for their well-being and grateful ourselves that you are part of their chimp family. All of us here wish you the happiest birthday yet!

Annie and Missy:

Burrito and Negra:

Jody and Foxie:

Jamie and Missy: