STAND UP FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
They say that laughter is the best form of medicine. Well, if that’s true, over 120 New Yorkers definitely got a good dose of healthy comedic relief on Wednesday evening, June 26th, at Gotham Comedy Club in Chelsea, benefiting Wild Tomorrow Fund’s conservation work in southern Africa. Read more and check out the full event gallery in the story below.
Some of the awesome guests of our first Standup for Wildlife comedy fundraiser at Gotham Comedy Club.
With so many news headlines filled with natures’ destruction, from the climate emergency to the poaching of rhinos, there is a lot to be desperately sad about when it comes to wildlife and the state of our planet. New York City turned this story around with a night filled with laughter and positivity, surrounded by fellow animal-lovers who came together to make a difference by supporting wildlife conservation in Southern Africa.
Our emcee, Angelo Lozada. Photo by Charles Chessler
Gotham Comedy Club was filled with Wild Tomorrow Fund’s supporters including past and future volunteers, dedicated donors, board members and ambassadors. We were treated to a hilarious line-up of well-known and well-loved NYC comedians.
Emcee for the evening, Angelo Lozada, is used to getting crowds excited, with his experience as the warm-up comedian for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He currently tours with Trevor Noah across the country.
Four awesome comedians: Paul Virzi, Gary Vider, Kerry Coddett and Brian Scott McFadden each had the crowd in stitches.
Not only did guests laugh for an hour and a half, they also actively supported our re-wildling work (the reintroduction of wildlife to our conservancies in South Africa). All guests had their names entered into a raffle to win the chance to name an ostrich: the first to be introduced onto our conservancy later this year, as well as the opportunity to bid in a live auction to re-wild a zebra and name a leopard!
Tori and Wendy, from Wild Tomorrow Fund NYC, drawing the ostrich-naming raffle. Photo by Charles Chessler
It was incredibly heart warming to see animal paddles and hands shooting up across the room, resulting in the naming of Ozzy the Ostrich, Ella the Zebra, and Aries the Leopard who will soon grace the wild spaces of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa together.
Our first comedy fundraiser was such a blast that we have decided to make it an annual event. Thank you to all who joined us and we hope you come again next year!
Special thanks to our Ambassador Charles Chessler for his event photography on the evening. If you find yourself in one of the awesome photos below, please share on social media and tag @wildtomorrowfund and @charleschesslerphotography.
