Wildlife Conservation Society Gala 2019
Photo Credit: Angela Pham/BFA.com
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) held its annual gala at the spectacular Central Park Zoo where 600 guests celebrated WCS’s impact on protecting the planet’s most ecologically important wild places and the extraordinary species that call them home.
Gala 2019 honored entrepreneur, philanthropist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his dedication to conservation, protecting the world’s oceans and coral reefs, and combating climate change.
Said WCS Chair Alejandro Santo Domingo: “Mike Bloomberg has demonstrated that a global leader taking local action can change the world. His commitment to protecting the world’s oceans and coral reefs from the effects of climate change and other threats has led to a fruitful partnership with WCS through the Vibrant Oceans initiative. Mike Bloomberg’s strong focus on climate change has been truly inspirational.”
Said Michael R. Bloomberg: “We must do all we can to leave our planet healthier and stronger than we found it. The Wildlife Conservation Society has been committed to that work for over 100 years. Thank you for this honor, and to everyone who has been a part of this mission – because your work is important now more than ever.”
WCS President and CEO Cristian Samper said: “As we work together to tackle the causes and impacts of climate change, we must embrace nature-based solutions like wetlands and forests that help to store carbon and enhance resilience to today’s storms. We must also work together to preserve wild places—nature’s strongholds on land and sea—that provide animals and people with protection, food, and shelter. Here at WCS, that’s exactly what we’re doing. As we approach our 125th anniversary in 2020, we can point to decades of successful, science-driven, field-based conservation impact in 60 countries around the world.”
A lifelong philanthropist, Bloomberg founded Bloomberg Philanthropies, which focuses on five main areas: public health, education, the environment, the arts, and government innovation. He serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, with the charge to galvanize the efforts of local and regional governments, businesses, and civil society. He is co-author, with Carl Pope, of the New York Times bestseller Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet. Bloomberg has long supported the Wildlife Conservation Society and its mission to save wildlife and wild places around the world. The Wildlife Conservation Society has also been a strong partner to Bloomberg Philanthropies in the fight to conserve the world’s oceans and protect coral reefs from the worst effects of climate change through the Vibrant Oceans Initiative.
As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS has safeguarded the planet’s important natural strongholds over the past century, helping to create more than 300 protected areas on land and sea. Additionally, WCS’s network of urban wildlife parks is the largest in the world, connecting over 4 million visitors a year to nature and science, creating a powerful force for conservation in New York and beyond.
All proceeds raised through Gala 2019 will help WCS set the standard for conservation science, action, and education, as it has done since its founding more than 120 years ago.
About the Gala
Gala 2019 celebrated Conservation for a Sustainable Future and WCS’s impact on protecting the planet’s most ecologically important wild places and the extraordinary species that call them home. During one of New York City’s premiere social events of the summer, gala guests enjoyed a lively reception around the sea lion pool featuring décor by Lewis Miller Design, followed by a seated dinner prepared by Peter Callahan Catering. Dancing continued under the stars with music by DJ Chris Stiles.
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. For more information, visit: wcs.org, newsroom.wcs.org.
Photo Credit: Angela Pham/BFA.com
