Event Recap

Cities 97’s Lee Valsvik, Honorary Chair Don Shelby and Chair Sue Johnson welcomed more than 560 guests to the 2010 Beastly Ball “One Red Hot Night,” which raised more than $400,000 for the Zoo’s conservation and education programs.   Honoring the elegant Red River Hog, one of the stars of a new permanent exhibit called Faces of the African Forest, this year’s Ball had it all: delicious food, extraordinary auction items, and an African Bazaar that once again enticed guests to pull out their wallets and spend!

Highlights of this year’s Ball included the drawing for the winner of an all-new, third-generation 2011 Toyota Sienna, which was won by a Zoo member with three children. The Zoo extends special thanks to the Twin Cities Toyota Dealers for their in-kind support of the Ball.  Also popular this year was “Rooting for Rubies.”  Guests rooted in a trough for a “ruby” that corresponded to signature jewelry pieces, including two gorgeous ruby rings donated by Continental Diamond and G. Allan Jewelers. 

We extend a special thanks to Sue, to the Beastly Ball Committee, and most importantly, to our guests and donors who made the 22nd annual Beastly Ball an extraordinary event.

Please take a few minutes to watch this year’s Fund-A-Need video that raised money to support the Minnesota Zoo’s Zoomobile program.