What other local event features a Great Horned Owl, Red Tailed Hawk, Gopher Tortoise, Virginia Opossum, American Alligator, and snakes galore? WILD About CROW of course!
On Friday, March 11th a sold out crowd celebrated the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) at the Historic Burroughs Home and Gardens. The ever popular animal print themed Gala, ‘WILD About CROW’ returned after missing 2021 due to COVID.
“WILD is back,” proclaimed Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey to the more than 200 guests clad in their prints of zebra, cheetah, python, and others. “CROW is so blessed to have the support of our community to protect our local and migratory wildlife and I’m thrilled for you to be able to meet our staff and Animal Ambassadors tonight.”
Longtime supporter, Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands returned as the Title Sponsor for the fundraising and “friend-raising” event featuring a cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, photo opportunities with CROW’s Animal Ambassadors, games, and fun surprises!
CEO Geoff Roepstorff wore his python tie and acknowledged CROW. “First and foremost, we would like to thank Alison and her staff for a wonderful evening and another highly successful ‘WILD about CROW’ event. By the end of the evening, attendees recognized CROW through their generous giving as the premier wildlife hospital in Southwest Florida,” Roepstorff said.
The tropical evening at the beautiful waterfront pavilion was emceed by animal lover and ABC7 “More in the Morning” co-host Jen Stacy, and included a silent and live auction with Chris Marchand, great music provided by southwest Florida native, DJ Robert McDonald, and lots of fun surprises for the guests. CROW staff and Animal Ambassadors mingled with guests during the cocktail hour and VIP reception inside the home.
Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith oversaw attorney Randall Spivey’s victory as winner of the “Headz or Tailz” Sanibel surprise themed package. Earlier in the evening, guests also participated in a round of questions and answers about local wildlife.
“CROW is such a treasured and important organization on Sanibel. It was great to see so many there from all over Lee County having a fabulous time and supporting CROW’s mission of saving wildlife – one critter at a time! Kudos for such a fun filled and successful event!” said Smith.
CROW exceeded their goals and expectations for the event raising a significant amount of money which will be applied to the renovation of their state of the art Sea Turtle Care Facility planned for Fall 2022. CROW is the only licensed sea turtle rehabilitation facility in southwest Florida between Sarasota and the Keys. The funds raised from ‘WILD About CROW’ will be used to begin the planning and redesign of this recovery center including five large sea turtle tanks.
Special thank you to WILD event sponsors: Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands as the Golden Bald Eagle sponsor; Anthony and Tia Farhat as a Silver Sea Turtle Sponsor; Northern Trust as a Bronze Bobcat sponsor; Superior Title Services as the ‘Otter’ly Entertaining sponsor; Scanlon Auto Group as the Southern Black Racer Valet sponsor; Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa as the Snowy Plover Dessert sponsor; Waterman Broadcasting as the Spoonbill Media sponsor; Huxter’s Market and Deli as the Southern Toad Spirits sponsor; Sanibel Moorings as the Box Turtle Wine sponsor; EnSite as the Burrowing Owl Brew sponsor; Spivey Law Firm as the Alligator Auction sponsor; and Ruth Messmer Florist, R.S.Walsh Landscaping, G3 Catering, Mark Loren Designs and Norman Love Confections as In-Kind sponsors.
About Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW)
Established in 1968, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a teaching hospital saving the sick, injured and orphaned native and migratory wildlife of Southwest Florida and beyond. Through state-of-the-art veterinary care, public education programs and an engaging visitor center, CROW works to improve the health of the environment, humans and our animals through wildlife medicine. For more information, or to plan your visit, go to www.crowclinic.org. If you find an animal that is in need of help, call (239) 472-3644 ext. #222.