For me personally, this time has been especially difficult. I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor and rich is much more fun! I’m used to being the one picking up the tab for everyone and leaving the big tip, or donating funds for projects around the globe. Now that fund-raising has to be part of our future, I need to adjust my mind-set and learn to graciously accept help. Recently several generous donations were received and I started to cry, as I felt like George Bailey after the angel Clarence showed him it really was “A Wonderful Life.”
Now that we must fund-raise, we are also reliant on the kindness of businesses and services of a wide variety. On this page, we will feature donations of in-kind services to our special friends.
Grumbles of
November, 2008
In addition to
providing Joe and Oliver with fruits and vegetables, employees at
Harry’s
Farmer’s Market (Whole Foods) in Marietta, Georgia, have volunteered at Gorilla
Haven several times. Harry's also runs their "Giving Grill" during the
summer, and has donated several thousand dollars to Gorilla Haven over the
years from that endeavor. THANK YOU, Harry's, for being a good friend to Gorilla Haven,
over the years and into the future!
At
the October 8, 2008 tour, local artist Susan Derkye surprised us with an oil
painting of Oliver, she'd done from a photo she saw in the local newspaper.
It beautifully captured Oliver's sweet face and we're amazed such talent is
in our own home town of Morganton, Georgia! Thank you, Susan!
Left: Artist Susan Derkye with her gift. Right: Photo of Oliver (courtesy Brian Finnicum, The News Observer) Susan used as her inspiration, before she finally met Oliver for the first time on his birthday.
Meyer's
German Bakery just moved to their larger quarters in Blue Ridge, much to my
dismay - so much for trying to diet when authentic and delicious European breads
and treats are
nearby! They have generously donated their day-old bread as special
treats for Joe and Oliver, who love it! As a thank you, I made them
this photo recap of both Joe and Oliver enjoying their special goodies. I
enjoy going there to practice my rusty German, but who am I kidding - it's
the food that keeps me going back!
In
early August 2008, a young college student and her mother visited Gorilla Haven.
I routinely turn down requests from non-zoo professionals, since we simply
don't have the time to do private tours, but Kelsey
Howell was a student of our
dear friend, Dr. Sue Woods (who has studied Joe for decades, and who is on
the GH Board of Advisors), so I made an exception. Kelsey mentioned she had
inherited funds from her grandmother and that after our tour, she would send
us something. A week or so later, we got a check from her parents for
$1,000, so I just naturally assumed that was the donation she referred to
and I thanked her profusely. Kelsey emailed me back to say, no - that
donation was from her parents - her donation would be coming shortly.
Sure enough, a week or so later, we got a sweet thank you card from Kelsey,
and found 12 checks - dated September 1, 2008 through August 1, 2009 - all
made out for $800 to Gorilla Haven. For those mathematically
disadvantaged, that's a donation totaling $9,600 from Kelsey!!!
It nearly blew me away, to think that a college student would be that generous - especially in this day of young, narcissistic twits becoming famous for their self-absorption getting all the media attention. Usually I mail out a colorful receipt for donations, but for Kelsey, I wanted (needed) to do something different, so I came up with the idea of an "advent calendar" themed thank you. Each month we get to cash one of Kelsey's checks (which will cover food bills for both Joe and Oliver), she gets to open a little 'door' to reveal a photo of one of the Boys thanking her. Thank you, Kelsey, for renewing my faith in the youth. Thank you, Mr and Mrs Howell, for your donation but more importantly for your amazing daughter! Photo of our lovely benefactor, courtesy of Kelsey Howell!
Speaking
of renewed faith in today's youth, this next thank you story has received
national attention:
click here
or
here. I had emailed a teacher whose 10 year
old student, Max Block, was an avowed gorilla
fan, just like me. Max knew the same gorillas I knew and had virtually
memorized Jim Davis' unofficial studbook from our website. Max and his
mom flew in from their home in Washington DC just for the October 11th Gorilla Haven
tour, so I spent some private time with Max, who amazed me with his
intensity and enthusiasm. The photo on the right is Wendy and Max Block,
mother and son, in front of our cabin. The photo on the right is Max and I
offering Joe a treat. Usually guests don't get this close to Joe (or
Oliver), but I was "reading" Joe's mood which was exceptionally good and he
seemed just as fascinated with Max as Max was with him, so I made an
exception.
Just
before the sold out tour was to begin, Max's mom asked if he could give me
something... Max
had a lemonade stand all summer long, near his home, and had used it to
promote gorilla conservation and awareness of bushmeat and other issues, and
he wanted Gorilla Haven to have his proceeds. As the 25+ tour guests
looked on, Max handed me a check for $2,500! I lost it and quickly
became a babbling fool, crying to think of his generosity, but also that
this was indeed the next generation, so maybe, just maybe, there would be
hope for gorillas after all. There wasn't a dry eye in Kathy's
Cottage, where we start our tours, as the crowd erupted in applause for Max.
Max's parents had also donated $1,000, and I laughingly told Max's mom to hurry home
and make the world more kids like Max 
!
The
tours brought us a lot of new and wonderful friends, including
Roger, Zack
and Jamie Dawson of Pennsylvania, who also made additional
donations to Gorilla Haven. Here are brother/sister Zack and Jamie proudly
showing off their new gorilla sack (see Gorumbles below), as they promised they'd be back
to help volunteer one day. They are more exceptional examples of the
Good Youth Squad, like Kelsey and Max, and with more like them, helping
improve whatever part of the world speaks to their hearts and souls, the
better world we'll all have.
Our
largest donor, it turns out, is all in the family. My only sibling, sister
Pam Rasmussen (photo left at her
birthday party), has generously donated
thousands of dollars to the Dewar Wildlife Trust over the past several
years, which is remarkable, since she's not a wealthy woman! Pam recently
spent her birthday with us (she lives in the Chicago area) and we had a
small party for her with some of her friends who live in the Atlanta area,
as well as some of my friends, and we visited the Boys (as I now refer to
Joe and Oliver) as a special treat. Pam had gone to Florida to take
care of things at our mother's condo (mom passed away in October 2006) and
asked if we'd like mom's old baby grand piano. Steuart jumped on the idea
and not only did Pam donate the piano, she donated the moving costs (making
the already generous donation even more substantial). Steuart's love of
music has been thwarted since his Clavinova (a good, high quality electronic
piano) went bust a year or so ago. The cabin doesn't have room for another
piece of furniture, let alone a baby grand piano, but we have room at the
Gatehouse (our guest house), by rearranging some furniture, so Steuart can
resume his love of piano playing - at all hours of the day or night too! Thank
you, Pam! Your kindness and love know no boundaries!!
Grumbles of August, 2008
v
Thank you Gorilla Sacks!
http://www.gorillasacks.com/
At the July 12th tour, we
met Lisa Zawacki and Derrick James, a young couple from Atlanta. Since the
group was so small and we were waiting for other tour members to arrive, I
asked everyone in the group what they did and why they came on the tour.
Lisa told us about her small company,
Gorilla Sacks, and how they use recycled billboard vinyl to create
unique hand bags, named after Lisa’s favorite animal. After the tour and
some chatting, Lisa decided to name Gorilla Haven as the recipient of their
profit donation program. So have a look at the website and remember, when
you buy a gorilla sack, you’re getting a functional piece of art, you’re
recycling and you’re helping Gorilla Haven! THANK YOU Lisa and Derrick!
v Thank you Merciers Orchards and Rosie Wilmot!
At Arts in the Park in
April, we held a raffle for a free private tour of Gorilla Haven. The
winners came for a tour in early July and from that a beautiful friendship
was made. Rosie Wilmot – raffle winner, Anne Horner’s friend – is also an
animal lover and she’s been helpful at getting a regular donation of apples
for Joe and Oliver from Merciers. Rosie negotiated with
Merciers
and picks up the donated produce/apples every other week, or as needed.
v Thank you Alpha Boost!
Several months ago, we
received a donation of a product called Alpha Boost, an organic powder that
can be used daily for optimum health and vitality to replace nutrients lost
in hay and grain for all grazing animals and restore natural plant based
nutrition when fresh produce is not available. Even though Joe and Oliver
get plenty of fresh produce, we decided to add Alpha Boost to their daily
supplements. We can’t tell for sure, but both Boys enjoy the product and my
subjective opinion is their hair looks shinier!
AlphaBoost
Joe (above) and Oliver (below) enjoying their
mirrors.
v Mirror Mirror On the Cage: http://www.mirroredstainlesssolutions.com
Mr. Paul Lencki
Mirrored Stainless Solutions
E772 Tomahawk Trail
Waupaca, WI 54981
In our never-ending search for ways to keep our beloved Oliver challenged and entertained, we thought if we could find a large, unbreakable mirror, perhaps he’d find it of interest. While searching the internet, I found a place in Waupaca, Wisconsin – where I used to visit friends years ago. So, I emailed the company and explained our situation – offering to mention the company in exchange for a donation or discount on a mirror for Oliver.
Much to my amazement and delight, the owner, Paul Lencki, sent us three stainless steel mirrors – gratis! – for Oliver and for Joe’s enjoyment, writing: “it would be nice if you could place something on your web site about my business however I am doing this because I can see that you have a tender spirit for this animal. The bible says that we are to help those in need. He has given me a business that I truly love so I feel blessed.”
Initially to get Oliver and
Joe to show more than a passing interest in the mirrors, we covered them
with peanut butter and seeds (also to get these photos).
Thanks Paul!
v Top of the World on a Red Bubble:
I have several email
friends around the globe who I’ve never met. Sometimes we discover ways of
helping each other that we hadn’t thought about previously. One such e-pal
is an artist, Julie Langford. She’s involved in an internet group of
artists and her work can be found at
http://www.redbubble.com/people/nannajul … When looking thru her
artwork, I noticed a piece entitled “Top of the World” which I just loved.
Julie graciously allowed us to use the image on note/post cards and t-shirts
to sell to fund-raise for Gorilla Haven, which was wonderfully generous of
her. Julie helps a lot of people and primates/animals around the world and
it’s great to know people can help their world in such a variety of ways.
Thank
you, Julie!
"Top of the World" image donation.
v High Country Picture Framing
491 East Main Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706-258-2987
A couple years ago, when funds weren’t in such short supply, I decided to get much of my gorilla artwork framed professionally, taking it to a local shop in Blue Ridge. We joked that our business paid their rent for several months, despite the discount they offered us. Initially when I told them I had a lot of work for them, I think they had their doubts. Months and months later, they realized I’m not prone to underestimate.
Now that we’re
looking to fund-raise, one idea is to sell some artwork and photos, and once
again, Mike and Christie of High Country Framing, came to our aid. We
explained our situation and they donated framing and matting for our
fund-raising efforts.
Thanks High Country Framing!!"
Mike & Christie with some of the donated framing.
Virunga Artisans live in Rwanda, the DRC and Uganda
v Virunga Artisans:
Website:
http://www.virungaart.com
We turned to our friends at Virunga
Artisans to get items to sell at Arts in the Park (May 2008) ... after
explaining our financial situation, Katie Doyle graciously donated several
unique, hand-made items to help with our fund-raising efforts, including
hand-carved tea boxes and hand-woven handbags made of banana leaf.
Thanks Katie!
v
Photography by Noel
Photography by Noel
Dave & Andy Noel
P.O. 750508
Las Vegas, Nevada 89136
ph. 888-716-7330
Fx. (702) 649-6360
Em: noel14@cox.net
About ten
years ago we received an email from Andy and Dave Noel about creating items
for fund-raising for Gorilla Haven, which we didn't need to do. So, when the
time came when we did need to think of ways of raising funds, I emailed them
and soon an enthusiastic and creative email exchange of ideas came about.
Their 15 year old business creates items for over 100 zoo gift shops and
sanctuaries in the USA and Canada. Products include quality
zoo/wildlife/scenic magnets, keyrings, bag tags, mousepad and snowglobes.
Unlike other places, there were no minimum purchase requirements and they
could use our own photos.
We are getting several items, including some panoramic magnets like this, to
sell at the Arts in the Park show (May 2008).
It's refreshing to find personal and fast, high quality service by people
who clearly enjoy what they're doing. Thanks
Andy and Dave!
v
Special Thanks to people who have sent donations (since January 2008,
alphabetically):
- Evelyn Reis in memory of Lorraine Chapdelaine –
- Lawrence Finch
- Nicole Graham
- Amber Gray
- The G. Hermann Foundation
- Stephen Kissinger
- Gerry Lukos
- Jon Meyer
- Raymond & Shirley Morrison
- Susan Pearson
- Pam Rasmussen
- Paul & Kay Vee Rhoads
- Doreen Rosanen
- Theodore & Elaine Saugstad
- Mike Seres
- Virginia Stangel
- Sue Woods