Non-Profit Charitable Foundation Supports Wildlife Conservation on Every Continent

SAN DIEGO - The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund raised more than $350,000 in support of animal rescue, wildlife conservation and environmental education during the foundation's third-annual ?WildNIGHT? dinner.

Event organizers reported more than 400 people attended the $300-a-plate fund-raiser at SeaWorld San Diego last night (Oct. 11). The Fund?s president, Virginia M. Busch; zoologist and television personality Jack Hanna; and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina hosted the event.

During the gala, the inaugural ?Waves of Change? award was given to Dr. Kurt Benirschke, founder of the center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES); and to Project Wildlife in San Diego for their achievements in wildlife conservation, research and education.

?WildNIGHT was a tremendous success,? said Andy Fichthorn, general manager of SeaWorld San Diego. ?The generosity of our major sponsors such as the Cohn Restaurant Group, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Southwest Airlines, Fujifilm U.S.A., and dozen of donations from a variety of other San Diego and Southern California companies, will allow us to continue to support wildlife conservation around the world.?

The Fund, created in 2003 by the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks, is a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to supporting environmental and wildlife conservation initiatives around the world. Its primary areas of focus are habitat and species conservation, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and environmental education.

Unlike most charities, 100 percent of donations to the Fund benefit individuals and groups active in conservation or education. Administrative costs, including fund development, staff salaries, equipment and facilities, are borne by Busch Entertainment Corp. (BEC), the theme park division of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

Since its inception, the Fund has distributed $3 million to nearly 300 projects in 60 countries.

The response to the Fund from the community, our theme park guests, Anheuser-Busch employees and distributors and business partners has been overwhelming and deeply gratifying,? Fichthorn said. ?The success of last night's event illustrates the deep commitment of individuals and corporations to preserve wildlife.?

Guests were entertained and informed about the Fund?s efforts and the global projects it supports by presentations that featured more than 50 exotic animals from SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks, including an Indian tiger, a parade of flamingos, a Canadian lynx, African-crowned cranes, a 6-foot alligator and the world-famous killer whale Shamu.

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund Mission: To work with purpose and passion on behalf of wildlife and habitats worldwide, encouraging sustainable solutions through support of species research, animal rescue and rehabilitation and conservation education.

SeaWorld Adventure Parks are in San Diego, Orlando, Fla. and San Antonio. In addition to the SeaWorld Adventure Parks, St. Louis-based Busch Entertainment Corporation operates Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay, Fla. and Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va.; Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; Water Country USA in Williamsburg; Sesame Place near Philadelphia; and Discovery Cove in Orlando. The nine parks entertain more than 20 million guests a year and employ more than 15,000 people. Aquatica, SeaWorld?s water park, is under construction in Orlando and is scheduled to open next spring (2008).

Leaders in conservation and education, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove care for the largest animal collection in the world and offer an education Web site especially for students and teachers at www.seaworld.org.Information on the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is at www.swbg-conservationfund.org. General park information is found at www.seaworld.com.

--SeaWorld--