Over $855,000 Raised for Children and the Environment
ATLANTA – December 19, 2011 –As one of the largest environmental fundraising events in the Southeast, the Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) presented its annual Benefit Gala at the Georgia Aquarium, Friday, December 9, 2011. At the conclusion of the evening, over $855,000 was raised to help fund CPF’s mission, to support hands-on environmental projects, designed to encourage innovative, game changing initiatives that will inspire and empower the next generation of environmental stewards. Party-goers including an array of Atlanta’s who’s who, celebrities, environmentalists and Foundation supporters turned out for the “be seen and be green” event of the year.
“We are so moved that in these economically cautious times, we raised more this year than the last three years combined,” said Laura Turner Seydel, CPF Chairperson. “It says a lot about how much people really care about our children and their future.”
Green carpet arrivals included Media Mogul, Ted Turner, 26-time Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Alison Krauss, Musician Dan Tyminski, Animal Planet Star Jeff Corwin, Real Housewives of Atlanta Phaedra Parks, Comedian Rodney Perry, Oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Other notable guests included Recording Artist Eryn Woods, American Idol’s Anoop Desai, Dr. Oz Show contributor Stepp Steward, Captain Planet founder Barbara Pyle, Mistress of Ceremonies Nadia Bilchik and Gala Co-Chairs Laura Turner Seydel and Elizabeth DuPree Lynch.
Presenting sponsors included: Turner Foundation, Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Power, JST Foundation, Pratt 100% Recycled, Atlanta Magazine, Xfinity and Davis,Pickren, Seydel & Sneed, LLP.
Highlights of the evening included a performance by 26-time Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Alison Krauss, Union Station Musician Dan Tyminski and a special musical performance by 10 year-old Lily Anderson who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Guests enjoyed a VIP cocktail reception and dinner by Wolfgang Puck, featuring organic and sustainably farmed cuisine and a stellar live and silent auction including one-of-a-kind trips and eco-luxury.
The foundation also presented their national “Superhero for Earth Awards” given to individuals who help inform the public about eco education, sustainability and being responsible stewards of the environment. Dr. Sylvia Earle, dubbed “the Sturgeon General” received the CPF Exemplar her world-renowned oceanography work. Animal Planet star and environmentalist Jeff Corwin received the Super Hero for Earth Award for his conservation efforts of endangered species and ecosystems around the globe. Eco-Activist and Student Leader Eric Estroff received the Captain Planet Young Hero for the Earth Award for his leadership with the Green Schools Alliance Student Climate and Conservation Congress and Green Cup Challenge. The Captain Planet Green School Award was awarded to Arabia Mountain High School for creating great stewards of our next generation.
For more information about the Captain Planet Foundation, please visit: www.captainplanetfdn.org.
About the Captain Planet Foundation
Based on the critically-acclaimed cartoon series, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, the Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) was co-founded in 1991 by Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle. The mission of CPF is to promote and support high-quality educational programs that enable children and youth to understand and appreciate the world through learning experiences that engage them in active, hands-on projects to improve the environment in their schools and communities. CPF is committed to making a global impact with a history of over 3,000 projects throughout the United States and around the world. For more information on the Foundation, call 404-522-4270 or visit www.captainplanetfdn.org.
Download Atlanta Magazine article “Bringing in the Green”