Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Sponsor-a-day

Happy Birthday, Meg!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by the chimpanzees’ (and humans!) long-time friend and supporter, Meg Lunnum, in celebration of her birthday! We are so grateful to Meg for all she does to help ensure the chimpanzees will live out their lives in a healthy, joyful, loving sanctuary home, their days full of choice and dignity.

Meg also works hard to protect local bat populations through education and encouraging responsible relationships between bats and humans, as well as rescuing and rehabilitating bats in need of assistance:

“I always like to treat myself to a nice birthday and giving to the chimps adds that much more to my birthday.”

Meg, thank you so much for sharing your special day with the chimpanzees and for all you do for so many animals! We all hope you have the best birthday yet!

Queen Negra sends birthday pant hoots your way:

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(In case you think Meg’s wonderful Sponsor-a-Day looks familiar, it was in fact accidentally posted for a short time a couple of days ago. We are SO sorry for the error Meg, and hopefully it just gave people a preview to your special day and extended the celebration!).

Happy Birthday, Laura!

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Kipling and Laura Knox sponsored this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in celebration of Laura’s birthday! A birthday is a meaningful event when we should all celebrate our own unique existence. So we are always touched when someone chooses to celebrate their own life by making the lives of the chimpanzees better.

Kipling and Laura, thank you! After living for decades with minimal to no choices, comforts or dignity, your compassion and generosity helps us continue to provide the chimpanzees with all the things that mean sanctuary to each of them and to celebrate how very special each of them are, every day.

Laura, we wish you the happiest of birthdays filled with all the love, joy and comforts you have shared with the chimpanzees today!

Foxie loving her Dora dolls:

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Burrito overjoyed with chow biscuits:

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Jody in the comfort of one of her cozy nests:

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Happy Birthday, Julie!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Julie Harding, as a way to celebrate her birthday! Julie has been a long-time volunteer with the sanctuary helping out with everything from processing the chimpanzees’ donated produce and prepping their meals, to making sure they have clean blankets to nest in and interesting enrichment to play with. She even helps out at our events!

Julie shared the following message: “In honor of my 57th trip around the sun, I’m sponsoring this day. Happy birthday to me and I hope to continue to support the CE7 for many years!!”

Julie, thank you so much for wanting to share your day with the chimpanzees and for the variety of ways in which you help to ensure that every day is one of sanctuary for them. All of the primates here wish you the best birthday yet!

These photos are from last summer, but if you’re day is filled with half as much joy as Missy’s days are from just being Missy, it will be a good day!

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Happy Birthday Donna and Doreen!

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Donna and Doreen Hughes are long-time friends of all the primates here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, especially their pal, Foxie, with whom they share a special love of trolls. They are twin sisters living the life in their beloved Big Apple and today is their birthday! Being the kind and compassionate souls they are, they chose to celebrate by sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and shared this message:

“We’d love to celebrate our birthday by sponsoring today! We love Foxie and all of the chimps. What gift could be more meaningful than to help the Great Apes? We hope the 23rd of January is a wonderful day for the chimps, and every day this year! We hope to visit the sanctuary in 2015! Love from NYC!”

Donna and Doreen, thank you for all you do to support great apes everywhere. We are so lucky to have you as part of our chimpanzee family. We hope you have a beautiful day and that all the love, joy, and kindness you send out into the world comes back to you tenfold! Happy Birthday!! (Maybe try some back-flips in Central Park, Foxie-style! Or at least give your trolls a good toss about!).

Two of Donna and Doreen’s kindred spirits, Foxie and troll:

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A day of sanctuary and service

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Today is observed as Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the States and both Katharine Moody, and a supporter who wishes to remain anonymous, chose to sponsor this date as a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees. Today means many things to many people. It is a day that honors Dr. King’s contribution to humankind and it represents the belief in freedom, equality, and justice for all through non-violent social change. To further honor Dr. King’s legacy, in 1994, Congress designated this federal holiday as a national day of community service – “a day on, not a day off.” We are honored that our two sponsors thought of making a difference in the chimpanzees’ lives on this day. Thank you so much, to both of you!

Katharine shared this amazingly kind message with us: “Thank you! I would not have had the opportunity to do this without you and your efforts.”

And our anonymous supporter shared this special message: “I chose this day because it represents the increased freedom experienced by the Cle Elum 7 when they were transferred from the research facility. It brings me near tears to see them roaming the hillside and lying on their backs eating grass without signs of fear. I am honored to be able to help serve each and every one of them.”

Jody enjoying a quiet moment with bamboo she harvested from Young’s Hill:

web_Jody_eat_bamboo_2_GH_jb_IMG_4287 We truly value each and every one of our supporters. We could never fully express the gratitude we have for being given the privilege of providing the chimpanzees with their lives in sanctuary. There are countless individuals and organizations, all doing incredible work, making a real difference in the lives of others, that you could choose to support and knowing this makes us feel all the more honored and full of gratitude.

Every single one of us has something valuable to give, a way to be of service and support to all living beings. Each of us is rich in this respect. And whatever inspires your compassion, makes your heart sing, follow that. Because ultimately, it benefits us all.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Jamie and Missy (background) on Young’s Hill:

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Happy Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Brezo!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Isabel Ibarra in honor of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Brezo, on their 56th wedding anniversary! Isabel, we are truly touched that you would choose to honor such a special day in your family’s lives with the gift of sanctuary for the chimpanzees. It’s amazing to see all of the wonderful life celebrations that the chimpanzees get to be part of and that their lives are enriched by.

Mr. and Mrs. Brezo, from all of the primates here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW we wish you a beautiful day full of love, laughter and celebration with your friends and family. Thank you so much for sharing your day with the chimpanzees! Happy Anniversary!!

Burrito and Jody:

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A day of birthday sanctuary from Jenny and Tracy!

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Today’s day of sanctuary was sponsored by Jenny Adams AND Tracy Headley in honor of our guy, Burrito, on his 32nd birthday! Today also happens to be Jenny’s birthday and she shared this sweet message:

“January 6th is my birthday, which I share with Burrito. I would like to share my day with everyone at the sanctuary. Keep up the great work!

And as you may recall, Tracy also recently sponsored a day of sanctuary by sharing her birthday with the chimpanzees and today she wants to celebrate her pal, Burrito!

It’s the most wonderful gift for us all that people feel connected to the chimpanzees and their well-being enough to want to share their special days, wishes and memories with them.

Jenny, we hope you have the best birthday yet and celebrate in classic Burrito style! (Hint: There should be lots of food and lots of squeaking). And Tracy, thanks for being one of the best friends a chimpanzee could have. We are so grateful to you both for making today’s celebration extra special.

This guy:

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Be sure to check back later today for the birthday fella’s celebration!