One-hundred-thirty individuals attended the Veterinarian International’s “Trunks of Love,” hosted by award winning actor Dwayne Hill this past August 12th at Bakers House in East Hampton, NY honoring Christie Brinkley for her passionate humanitarianism, animal advocacy, and leadership in championing the cause of elephants. A feature presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award designed by esteemed fine artist Alexis Rockman was given to Brinkley and Asian elephant expert Richard Lair who attended from Thailand. Guests enjoyed champagne by Louis Roederer, whiskey by Clyde May’s, music by DJ Dodge, exquisite cuisine by Best Chefs of America Chef Maurizio Marfoglia, Chef Elisabeth Johansson Swedish Culinary Summer, Mecox Dairy and a special champagne pairing course by local award-winning food writer and chef Jodi Moreno of What’s Cooking Good Looking. All food was sustainably sourced. Also on-site was Helen Ficalora selling her Vets International elephant charms where 100% of the proceeds of the silver and 25% of the gold charms go to the elephant veterinary care program.
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The evening focused on VI’s Asian elephant veterinary care program, which includes the building of two mobile elephant clinics at Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) and its surrounding community in Sukhothai, and the Surin Elephant Kingdom in Thailand, as well as an EEHV (Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus) disease surveillance program for baby elephants who are at risk of this fatal virus. The two clinics will provide urgently needed services to 265 captive elephants in these remote regions, and be a model of excellence for their mahouts (caretakers), by teaching compassionate treatment and proper standards of care.
“We are so incredibly grateful to all who came to support this desperately needed elephant veterinary care program, we are now at 40% of our $200 000 goal which we hope to reach by November 1, 2016. We were so pleased to be able to honor living legend Richard Lair from Thailand, and advocate Christie Brinkley which helped raise awareness about the Asian elephant crisis.”.
Topping the “Trunks of Love,” event followed a Sunday film screening of Patricia Simms “When Elephants Were Young” at Nova’s Ark Project. Guests were able to learn more about the Asian elephant crisis through the film which is being released world wide and is top best seller on iTunes. Following the film screening was a panel discussion with Award wining filmmaker Patricia Simms, Dr. Scarlet Magda (Founder & President of Veterinarian International), elephant expert Richard Lair and moderated by Senior Technical Advisor of VI Dr. William B. Karesh.
“It was wonderful that so many people came out to support the Veterinarian’s International event on World Elephant Day to learn about the many critical issues that elephants are facing worldwide. I was really thrilled to see the positive audience reaction to my film “When Elephants Were Young” and their appreciation of the film’s story and what some of the conservation solutions can be to help save Asian elephants,” stated award winning filmmaker and Founder of World Elephant day Patricia Simms.
VI would like to thank it’s Partners and Sponsors
Princess Angelique Monét
Veronica Lee Anne
Antonella Bertello and the Baker House
DJ Dodge
Susan Allen
Nicole and Allen Salmasi
Anne Hearst
Cornelia Guest
Georgina Bloomberg
Chris Mead
Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island
Jim Mindling
Wellington Tichenor, MD
Jennifer Lauren
Helen Ficalora
Ines Nedelcovic
Phillip White
Gloss studio
East End Limosine
Dell Cullum
Mecox Dairy
Todd Westphal, IshootAmerica
Mecox Dairy
The Bridgehampton Florist
Dell Cullum
Tundra Wolf and Nova’s Ark Project
Maurizio Marfoglia
Swedish Culinary Summer
Jodi Moreno, What’s Cooking Good Looking
