3 August 2010 - Los Angeles, CA (OURF). The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) held its annual fundraiser on July 17th at a beautiful historic home in Toluca Lake (North Hollywood), California. The successful event was an opportunity for long-time supporters to meet one other and make friends with new supporters. The fundraiser began at 5pm for the VIP reception and ran until well after 8:30pm.

Environmentalist/actor Ed Begley Jr. and Channel 4 (NBC) weatherman Fritz Coleman met with guests at the VIP reception and stayed to enjoy the entertainment during the evening. Fritz also served admirably as the event emcee.

We had a variety of entertainers at the event including our host, Debi Derryberry, the voice of Nickelodean's Jimmy Neutron. Debi performed her song, "Oodle the Orangutan" while her husband, Harvey Jordan, provided on stage entertainment as a dancing orangutan. We also had a very impressive demonstration of sensual "Argentine Tango" by Nataliya Nozharova and her partner Moti Buchboot, as well as beautiful and exotic Balinese dancing by Dayu. The gamelan group "Bali & Beyond" performed their mesmerizing sounds of Java throughout the evening.

Authors Shawn Thompson,  "The Intimate Ape-Orangutans and the Secret Life of a Vanishing Species" and Jean Chaffee, "Azak Learns to Read", were among the nearly 80 guests who attended the fundraiser that included great vegetarian food, a bountiful silent auction, and a live auction conducted so ably by Fritz.

Ed Begley spoke to the assembled group about why he supports OURF, and President Dr. Gary Shapiro provided a brief overview of his recent trip to Indonesia explaining why the work of the Foundation is so important to the future of the species. Shapiro also acknowledged the hosts, Debi and Harvey as well as Fritz Coleman with certificates of appreciation for all they have done in support of the event.

So how successful was the annual fundraiser? So far, OURF has been able to raise more than $17,000 to support its education and outreach programs. The success was made possible through the efforts of Committee Chair Susan Callery, the fundraising team of Debi, Harvey, John Page, Wendy Cundiff, the numerous volunteers who participated that night, and the many, many donors who contributed financially and in-kind, some of whom were not in attendance.

Funds continue to come in, so we encourage you to make an after-event donation towards our annual campaign to support the work of the Foundation and our Indonesian partners, the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative Indonesia, the Orangutan Caring Club of North Sumatra, and the Orangutan Information Center. 

- Orang Utan Republik Foundation Press Office

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Photo gallery from the 2010 "Free to be Wild" Fundraiser

Photographer John Luker - All images property of OURF

   

Debi & Mimi, the pig, show off to Susan & Fritz  Balinese dancer Dayu moving in rhythm to music

Debi Derryberry singing Oodle the Orangutan with Harvey in partial costume in dance