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Jon Stryker and Jane Goodall pose with her award during the 20th anniversary Save the Chimps Gala held in New York City's Meatpacking District.
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#SEENinNYC: Save the Chimps

Ben Petchel

#SEENinNYC: Save the Chimps

When and where: Tuesday night in the Meatpacking District, Manhattan.

#SEENRoadTrip: When I found out that LUXE Creative, a Pittsburgh-based event production company, was producing an event in New York City to celebrate the legacy of conservationist Jane Goodall and the 20th anniversary of Save the Chimps, I knew it was going to be special. When I arrived a day before the event, Martin Potoczny, CEO and creative director of LUXE, and his team were hard at work. “We are installing a 12-foot custom-built green wall, embellished with live tropical leaves,” he said, as lead designer, Shahira Wahba, weaved the greenery into the backdrop (perfect for photo-ops and selfies!). The industrial space was being expertly lit in hues of green and blue while video monitors projected the chimpanzees’ natural habitats.

#SaveTheChimps: The intimate event put the focus where it belonged: on the incredible animals that are being saved. “This event is a call to action. There are hundreds of chimps still in scientific laboratories and even NASA stations that need to be brought to sanctuary,” said board chair Jason North. The organization works to protect chimpanzees and inspires people to conserve the natural world. Added Jon Stryker, billionaire philanthropist who was a driving force behind the event: “It is exciting to see us come together around this milestone and see what we have accomplished. Jane [Goodall] has been my hero for many years. It is a big job to create sanctuary spaces for these incredible creatures. Our No. 1 concern is the care of these chimps.”

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And Now a Moment With ... Conservationist Jane Goodall: What does it mean to have celebrated the 20th anniversary of Save the Chimps? It’s very rewarding, but I constantly worry about funding because they live so long. Some of the chimps can live to be 70 years old.” Did you ever expect this organization to have such an impact? There are sanctuaries now in Africa and many in the United States, too. I still remember when it all began, and we just were focused on giving chimps, our closest living relative, a decent life, away from laboratories and onto forested islands, places they belonged. Why this particular cause? (She shrugs her shoulders.) Because it had to be done. I travel 300 days a year and since 1986 when this all began, the passion from supporters has been the driving force. This is all of our homes. We have to protect all who live here.” To learn more, visit savethechimps.org.

#SEEN: Executive director Molly Polidoroff, event emcee and president of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, actor Alan Cumming, CNN host Don Lemon and “The Voice” season 12 finalist Stephanie Rice with fiancee Jan Gonzalez.

First Published: October 2, 2017, 4:00 a.m.

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Jon Stryker and Jane Goodall pose with her award during the 20th anniversary Save the Chimps Gala held in New York City's Meatpacking District.  (Ben Petchel)
Actor Alan Cumming speaks during the Save the Chimps event.  (Ben Petchel)
From left: Molly Polidoroff and Jason North  (Ben Petchel)
Jane Goodall.  (Ben Petchel)
Jane Goodalll with her painting.  (Ben Petchel)
Ben Petchel
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