Meet-&-Greet With ET the Walrus and Other 1-of-a-Kind Zoobilee Auction Items

A SPECIAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES VISIT WITH E.T. THE WALRUS AND OTHER ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS ARE NOW UP FOR BID IN THE ZOO SOCIETY’S ONLINE ZOOBILEE FUNDRAISING AUCTION

Tacoma, Wash. – It’s that glorious Zoobilee time of year, and The Zoo Society has a slate of fabulous one-of-a-kind auction items now available for online bidding.

Imagine taking a behind-the-scenes tour to meet E.T., Tacoma’s iconic, 3,400-pound Pacific walrus. It’s a priceless experience for four.  Or climbing through nets and zooming down the zip lines at ZOOM, the zip line/challenge course at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.  Or picking up a never-before-offered professional portrait of a favorite zoo animal by the zoo’s own photographer.  Those are among the items offered in The Zoo Society’s online Zoobilee auction, which began Monday and runs through July 5.

More than 90 items already are up for bid, and more will be added weekly through the auction period. They include exclusive zoo experiences as well as concert tickets, sports tickets, restaurant gift certificates, passes to local museums and attractions and more.

A sampling of other items in the online auction includes: 

• Registration for one child in summer day camp at the Tacoma Nature Center.  Also includes a Nature Center gift pack.
• Garden Makeover Package:  A personal tour of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s horticulture collection guided by the zoo’s gifted horticulturist, Bryon Jones. Immediately following the tour, the fun continues with an at-home consultation for a spectacular garden. The buyer’s newfound knowledge can quickly be put to use with the included $100 gift certificate to Gardensphere in North Tacoma.
• Two all-day adult lift passes for Stevens Pass.
• Two tickets to a performance at The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.
• $25 gift certificate to Infinite Soups in Tacoma.
• Wine and Cheese tasting for eight at 208 Garfield in Parkland.
• Seattle Mariners Game Day Package: Two Terrace Club tickets to the Aug. 26 game against the Texas Rangers. The package includes a parking pass and $8 in concessions for each person. In addition, there’s a $50 gift card to enjoy FX McRory’s Steak Chop and Oyster House.

The online auction complements the gala black-tie Zoobilee event on July 19. This year’s theme is Jewels of the Arctic.  Proceeds from Zoobilee directly support the education and conservation efforts of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, as well as funding other needs at the zoo.

Zoo Society officials expect heightened interest and participation in the auction.

“We know the passion our community has for Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium,” said Zoo Society executive director Lawrence J. Norvell.  “The online auction gives everyone the opportunity to financially support the zoo and aquarium and get a great deal on items donated by more than 100 companies and individuals in our community.”

Zoobilee is the premiere fundraising event for the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Zoobilee chair Dianne Conway points out. 

“By bidding in the online auction you will be supporting the zoo’s education programs, its support for conservation and research of threatened and endangered species, and, of course, its provision of excellent healthcare for animals. You can do all of this by bidding even if you don’t win, as you will be encouraging someone else to pay more.  So bid early and often!”

A limited number of tickets to the gala Zoobilee dinner and auction are still available. They are $225 per person, with a $25 discount available for zoo members and Vision Keepers.  Call 253-404-3651 to purchase tickets.

To check out the items up for auction and make a bid, go to www.zoobilee.org or the auction site at http://auctions.readysetauction.com/zoobilee/ .