A sold out field of seventy-six golfers hit the greens at Loblolly Pines Golf Course on Saturday, September 8th for the 2nd Golf for Wildlife Tournament to raise funds for the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center. Through the Vicki Hess Foundation, long time supporter Glen Hess provided underwriting support to reprise the successful Golf for Wildlife 2005. Hurricane damage to the course prevented repeating the event in 2006. This year the event netted more than $55,000, most of which will go toward building a much-needed new facility for the wildlife center in Palm City.

Major sponsors of the Tournament included Calusa Creek Tree Farm, Becker Holdings, Lucido and Associates, Atlantic Preserve, Ward Waldman Real Estate, and many, many others. Significant media support came from The Stuart News, The Palm Beach Post, Ampersand Graphics, and Toyota of Stuart among others. The full listing of sponsors is posted at http://www.tcwh.org/golfsponsors07.htm. We hope you will tell all of them how much you appreciate their generosity to your Wildlife Center.

“ We are grateful and honored by the continued support and generosity from the business community,” said Dan Martinelli, executive director of the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center. “It is because of this support that we are able to care for and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned wild animals today, and will be able to look forward to an even brighter future ahead.”

“ It was a dynamic mix of people that assisted in making this event such a success” said Alicia Morgan, TCWC Development and Special Events Coordinator. “The entire community was pleased to contribute time, talents, and energy, making the event a triumph. This demonstrates once again the special place the Wildlife Center occupies in our community.”

Golf for Wildlife Media Sponsors

November 17, 2006

At Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort, Stuart

The Hot Rod Experience - “Hot Music and Hot Cars for a Wild Cause” was a tremendous success. If you were there, you remember! If you were not, you should be sorry you missed it. Either way, you can watch the slide show. Look for yourself, and look for your friends.

SLIDE SHOW

Still photography courtesy of Mark McAfee, Double M Photo, 772-403-3151

More than 125 guests partied and danced to the music of the Hot Rod Live Band. Treasure Coast Wildlife Foundation Board Member Glen Hess (and sponsor of the upcoming Golf for Wildlife 2007 - see Coming Events) was there with his friend Linda. Foundation Board Member (and recently re-elected Martin County Commissioner) Susan Valliere and husband Jim were there. So was Foundation Board Member Fred van Vonno along with his wife (and head of Martin County Growth Management Department) Nicki. Ruth Ann Vega, Treasurer of the Foundation, also attended.

Among the partiers was Jim Haugk. Jim is a Foundation Board Member, and also the President of the Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital's Operating Board of Directors. Jim's wife Jeanette was high bidder in the Tour the Town in a Hot Rod with Hot Rod auction, outbidding several others for the privilege. Tim and Lynda McAfee chauffered the ride in their beautifully restored 1957 Chevrolet Bel Aire. To the delight of all attendees, Tim and Lori Bowman displayed their 1932 Ford; Richard and Yvonne Koch brought their 1963 Ford Galaxie; Don and Cheryl Bingham their spectacular 1934 Cadillac LaSalle; and Bill and Donna Preble showed off their 1970 Chevelle.

Other Hospital Operating Board Members in attendance were Ed Bowes, Ruth Neese, Michele Booth, Georgianne Graves, and Terrie Eilbeck. Terrie is also a member of the Event Committee who brought this terrific evening into being. Executive Director Dan Martinelli's wife Stefanie chaired the Committee, which also included Tammy Hirtriter, Stephany Fish, and Gretchyn Duval. All were there for the festivities, even though Gretchyn had to fly back from her new home in Oregon for the event.

There were both old and new friends and supporters in abundance- far too many to list them all. See who else you can identify in the slide show!

Our most sincere thanks go to the band: George Orr, Larry Janca, and Ike Hartmore for their pro bono performance. And similar thanks to our sponsors. Without the support of all of them, the evening - and its benefit to the Wildlife Center - would not have happened.

“YES we will play at your private party.
We are booked months in advance.. so act now!
And yes.... we are bloody expensive.... but we are fun!”
Bookings: 954-445-2146 e-mail George Orr

“I’m not an impersonator. I just happen to look and sound like someone else,” says 'Hot Rod' George Orr.

Download / play video clips (Windows Media files)

What's all the buzz about? (1.6 megabytes) video courtesy of End Result Productions

Hot Rod (George Orr) performing "I Was Only Joking" (2.7 megabytes)

Announcing our event (6.2 megabytes)

Live performance "Hot Legs" (5.2 megabytes)

Check out Hot Rod's own web site

Class of 2006 Graduation Ceremony at Jensen Beach High School, "The Falcons"

click for larger image

Kristen Conrad, Senior Class President, holding Freyia the Peregrine Falcon

Gracie the Bald Eagle turns heads at Indiantown Chamber of Commerce Bike and Car Rally, April 23rd. More than 2000 people attended.

“Wind Beneath My Wings” a Soaring Success

Scores of humans flocked to support the birds and other wild creatures of the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center at the “Wind Beneath My Wings” Cocktail Party and Wildlife Release which was held at the Hobe Sound Golf Club Saturday April 8, 2006.

Gatherers mingled with owls, hawks, and a Crested Caracara as they sipped cocktails and witnessed the unveiling of the site plan of the future Treasure Coast Wildlife Center. Newly produced architectural renderings of the upcoming buildings planned for the 20 acre site were on display featuring a Discovery Center which will include interactive nature and wildlife exhibits, an outdoor amphitheatre, nature trails, and a state of the art Wildlife Clinic.

Waste Management donation Thanks to Chairs Carol Dippy & Laurie Smith

Jeff Sabin on behalf of Waste Management presented the Center with a check for $5000 at the event and relayed to the crowd “how important the work of the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center is to our community both as a source of education and as a means of environmental stewardship to our county’s natural gifts.”

In tribute to the many sponsors, donors and supporters of the Wildlife Center who attended the event the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” was performed by Yolande Fawcet, bringing tears to the eyes of guests who were then invited to view the release of a rehabilitated patient back into the wild. Guests held their breath as a Herring Gull was released into the sky for a stunning finale.

“To witness a wild animal being released back to nature after a successful healing process is so meaningful to see that you can not help but to feel emotionally involved” said Carole Dippy co-chair of the event.

Stefanie Martinelli releases the recovered Herring Gull

The event, scheduled to replace last Fall’s “Masquerade Ghoula” which was cancelled due to hurricane Wilma, raised cumulatively over $21,000 for the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center. Sponsors of the event include Financial Planning Associates, Inc, Mike Dadko & UBS Financial Services, Karlin Daniel & Associates, Harley Davidson of the Treasure Coast, Ed Bowes & Ruth Neese, Banks and Anne Clark, Crossroads Environmental Consulting, Inc., The Day Agency, Inc., Carole and Walter Dippy, First National Bank & Trust, Florida Power & Light Company, Martin Downs Animal Hospital, Reina Ramos of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Treasure Coast Spine Institute,
and Weiss, Handler, Angelos, & Cornwell, P.A.

The “Wind Beneath My Wings” Cocktail Party and Wildlife Release is part of a series of new events designed to raise community awareness and support for the Wildlife Center’s current operations and future plans. For more than thirty years, the Wildlife Center has been providing clinical care, treatment and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, as well as providing educational outreach programs to children and adults throughout the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches.

2005 Golf for Wildlife a Huge Success!

View Sponsors or See Pictures

Herculean efforts culminated successfully in a sold out “Golf for Wildlife Tournament” to benefit the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center which was held at the distinguished Loblolly Pines Golf Club in Hobe Sound on Friday, May 20th.

Nineteen foursomes played in the first annual “Golf for Wildlife” Tournament which stirred up a great deal of interest, community support, and corporate sponsorships indicating the widespread appeal of environmental awareness.

“People want to live in communities that are environmentally friendly, so it’s very important for Centex Homes to support an organization that has a long history of helping wildlife,” said Aimee Craig Carlson, Project Manager for Centex Homes, which was a $15,000 corporate sponsor of the event. “We hope other companies will join us and support this effort.”

We will use this event as a springboard for the capital campaign to raise $2.3 million to build a facility on our 20 acre property in Palm City. The Center plans include a new wildlife clinic, education center, amphitheatre, and nature trails with wildlife exhibits. Thanks to its generous supporters and participants, the Golf for Wildlife Tournament contributed $60,000 towards our ongoing operations including clinical care, treatment and rehabilitation of native wildlife, and educational outreach programs which the Wildlife Center has been providing the Treasure Coast for thirty years.

Through the Vicki Hess Foundation, long time supporter Glen Hess initially came forward to provide underwriting support for the tournament scheduled for last October but postponed due to the hurricanes. Additional corporate sponsors included Centex Homes; Becker Holdings; McNicholas and Associates; Crossroads Environmental Consultants; Jacuzzi Brands; Financial Planning Associates Inc; Gulfstream Business Bank; Stryker Electric; Beaches MRI; Southeastern Printing; and TDI International. Michael Reilly and Barbara Trimble were generous personal sponsors of the event.

“It was a dynamic mix of people that assisted in making this event such a success” said Laura Daniel, TCWC Development and Special Events Coordinator “The staff of McNicholas and Associates made an enormous contribution of time, talents, and energy making the event a triumph for the Wildlife Center.”

At the Ranch With Wildlife Summer Camp at Marasco Ranch

See Pictures

The Treasure Coast Wildlife Center received rave reviews from children and their parents about our first Wildlife at the Ranch Summer Camp. Staff from TCWC partnered with Donna Marasco of the Marasco Ranch to offer two 1-week sessions for children ages 7-10 years. “As this was our first attempt at a summer camp, we were delighted with the incredibly positive feedback we received,” explained Laura Daniel, Events Coordinator for TCWC. Both sessions were filled to capacity with happy campers. The income generated through camp fees was over $3,000 which will help to support the Center’s educational outreach programs.

Staff educated and entertained a total of 35 campers during the weeks of June 20th and July 11th. Each morning, campers enjoyed learning about life on the ranch with Donna Marasco as they got up-close and personal with goats, llamas, ponies, sheep, and donkeys. Each camper was encouraged to adopt a baby bunny or chick for the week and was responsible for feeding and caring for it.

Treasure Coast Wildlife Center staff coordinated the afternoon segment of camp, educating campers about various species of native wildlife and introducing campers to live reptiles, birds and mammals native to our area. Tim Brown mesmerized campers with information on such creatures as Galileo, a three foot alligator who the kids had the opportunity to touch and observe. Several brave and willing campers handled Courtly the Kingsnake and all delighted over seeing Ollie the Barred Owl, Amber the Great Horned Owl, and Blue the Peregrine Falcon. Campers marveled in awe over Gracie the Bald Eagle who sparked a multitude of questions from the bright young minds eager to learn about the majestic bird of prey.

Each day campers worked diligently on their camp binders, answering questions based on what they learned and honed their artistic skills drawing daily portraits of the Wildlife Ambassadors who patiently posed for the kids on their perches. After a week of meeting wild animals, creating numerous art projects, and singing the TCWC camp theme song, the camp culminated in ‘Pizza Party Friday’ where competitive sentiments reared in the “Great Turtle Race”. Campers cheered on the speedy victors Wild Fire and Dandy who closely, albeit slowly, tied for first place.

“We are very appreciative of the parents who entrusted us with their children and who were willing to take a chance on a new camp experience,” Daniel added.

A tremendous Thank You goes to Donna Marasco and the folks at the Marasco Ranch who gave us this unique opportunity to create a summer camp experience where children had the opportunity to learn about domestic farm animals as well as native Florida wildlife. “We are so touched by Donna’s generosity in inviting us to share her summer camp with her for these two weeks,” added Daniel. For information about parties at the Marasco Ranch and beginning horseback riding lessons call Donna Marasco at 772-708-1879.

Call us at 286-6200 or visit the Marasco Ranch web site to learn more!!