
AUGUST 26, 2023
From the glimmer of the moon on the water to the shimmery pearl colors inside an abalone, nature sparkles and shines all around us. Let’s celebrate with this year’s Zoofari Ball: Sparkle & Shine. Immerse yourself in the glow of the Zoo’s hilltop as partygoers spark a celebration of all things bright and brilliant. Fizzing spirits light the way to the glimmering silent auction full of radiant delights.
While we celebrate the Zoo’s 60 years of shining achievements, everyone is encouraged to experience the brilliance of the occasion and like fireflies in the night, unleash your inner sparkle.

Event Information

Date and Time
Zoofari Ball: Sparkle & Shine is Saturday, August 26 from 5:30 to 11 PM.
Cost
Early Bird price is $425/person (through July 31)
Regular Price is $500/person (starting August 1)
Food and Drink
Rincon Events returns to dazzle with cuisine and refreshments sure to ignite the senses.
Attire
Make a statement with flashy fashion, from glitzy getups to disco dungarees or anything in between. Go for glitter, neon, rhinestone face jewels, glam nouveau, or traditional safari gear.
Silent Auction
Choose from a highly curated selection of unique themed packages.
Travel Raffle
Buy a raffle ticket to win a six-night luxury vacation for two. Tickets cost $100/each and only 300 will be sold. More details below.
Live Entertainment
Your electric dance moves will carry the vibe late into the night with the sparkling sounds of The Collective Music Group.
Get Zoofari tickets online, by mail (send a check to 500 Niños Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103), or call (805) 679-8442.
Peruvian Paradise Raffle
ADVENTURE IN THE AMAZON: Enter to win a six-night luxury vacation for two in Peru.
- Luxury Cruise: Three-night luxury cruise on the Amazon River courtesy of Aqua Expeditions
- First Deck Design Suite accommodations
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages while on board
- Guided excursions and wildlife encounters (jungle trek, kayaking, skiff rides)
- Airfare between Aqua Expeditions departure location (Iquitos, Peru) and Lima
THEN RELAX IN LIMA
- Boutique hotel accommodations: Three-night stay at the Ātemporal Casa en Lima
- Culinary tour: Half-day culinary tour of Lima’s ceviche restaurants (with private car and expert guide)
- Roundtrip transfers between Lima Airport and the Ātemporal
Estimated package value: $12,000. Only 300 tickets will be sold.

Drawing will take place at Zoofari Ball on August 26, 2023; need not be present to win. Must be 18 years old or older to enter. Current Robertson International Travel Consultants and Santa Barbara Zoo employees are not eligible to enter. This raffle is registered with the State of California Department of Justice and as such, is subject to official State of California raffle regulations. Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Zoofari Ball Sparkle & Shine Sponsors
Diamond
Anonymous
The Crawford Family
The Dreier Family
Platinum
Anonymous
Bella Vista Designs, Inc.
Brent, Eileen & Alexander Dill
The Handtmann + Evans Family
Hutton Parker Foundation
Michael MacElhenny & David Wine
Nathan & Courtney Matthews
Mesa Lane | Mesa Advisors
Mimi Michaelis
Montecito Bank & Trust
Bob & Debbie Myman
Rudi Schulte Family Foundation
Rusty’s Pizza Parlors
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
U.S. Bank
Ventura Toyota & Ventura Volkswagen
John C. Woodward
Gold
Arlington Financial Advisors
Margo & Jeff Barbakow, in honor of Annabel
City National Bank
Court Connection Legal Services, Inc.
CSU Channel Islands
Frank Schipper Construction Co.
HUB International of California Insurance Services, Inc.
The Hurst Family
Marjorie Jeter
Kayne Anderson Rudnick Wealth Management
The Krainer Family
Mosher Foundation
Daniel Nash & Maia Kikerpill
Northern Trust
Pepsi
Robert K. & Barbara J. Straus Family Foundation
SSA Group
Tyler Speier Events
Venbrook Insurance Services
Village Properties, Inc.
The Wyatt Family
Leslie and Robert Zemeckis
Silver
Allen & Kimball, LLP
American Riviera Bank
Marcy & Matt Bazzani
In memory of Polly Blackburn
Ruth Ann Bowe – Village Properties
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Carbon California Company
CopperPoint Insurance Companies
Brooke Costello and Sierra Muller
Cottage Children’s Medical Center
Driven Capital Partners
Evolutions Medical & Day Spa
Drew & Allie Ferris
Fidelity Investments
Gary Frolenko Engineering
Giffin & Crane General Contractors, LLC
Jess & Aaron Goldberg
Sarah Gower and Becca Hade
Patricia & Alan Griffin
Stina Hans and Joel Kreiner
Caitlin Hensel and Kat Hitchcock
Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP
Jim & Chana Jackson
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Peter & Gerd Jordano
La Cumbre Animal Hospital
George and Laurie Leis
Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group
Dr. & Mrs. Glenn Miller
David & Maureen Morehouse
Sue & Jim Neuman
The Oshay Family Foundation
Will & Pam Powers
Angela & Carlos Sanchez
The Scribner Family
SoCalGas
Sol Wave Water
Nana & Bob Talevi
Ventura Investment Co.
Shannon & Bradley Vernon
Premier
Catering: Events by Rincon
Event Design: Tyler Speier Events
Print: Boone Graphics
Raffle: Robertson International Travel Consultants
Wine: The Brander Vineyard and Foxen Vineyard & Winery
Sponsorship
There are many opportunities for you or your business to support the Zoo by sponsoring Zoofari Ball. By becoming involved with the Zoo, you’ll join a community committed to the preservation of animals and support a beloved local institution.
Contact Megan Nuss by email or phone (805) 679-8442 to become a sponsor of this year’s Zoofari Ball.
Zoofari Ball Sparkle & Shine Committee

HONORARY CHAIR
George Leis
EVENT COORDINATORS
Tyler Speier & Megan Nuss
Sarai Anderson
Andrew Antone
Marcy Bazzani
Nikki Bazzani
Elaine K. Mah Best
Danielle Bolster
Alexandra Bongiovanni
Christy Borneman
Marc Borowitz
Lauren Bryson
Deanna Buley
Vince Caballero
Wendy Campbell
Betsy Challen
Brooke Costello
Colleen Dennis
Mindy Denson
Alexandria Ferris
Jessica Fisher
Sarah Berkus Gower
Heather Schuyler Gray
Patricia Griffin
Becca Hade
Liz Hahn
Kelly Herting
Jamie Hu
Michael Hurst
Kim Kirkhart
Cathy Kling
Sophie Koh
Tracy Krainer
Desirea Lekhraj-Loftus
Carol Ann Mayner
Sue McCue
Sierra Muller
Sue Neuman
Kevin Nuss
Robyn Parker
Pam Powers
Elissa Rubin
Shelley Schulte
Amy Shamus
Shannon Silk
Amy Sloan
Alison Sydney
Nana Talevi
Betsy Turner
Shannon Vernon
2023 Zoo Board of Directors
Derek Shue, Chair
Jim Jackson, Vice Chair
Jesse Perez, Treasurer
Clark T. Stirling, Secretary
Alexandra Bongiovanni
Vincent Caballero
Elizabeth Challen, DVM
Jessica L. Diaz
Eileen Dill
Ginni Dreier
Joanne Funari
Yvette Birch Giller
Michael Hurst
Brian Kerstiens
Tracy Krainer
Robert M. Myman
Angela Sanchez
Dan Segna, DVM
Betsy Turner
Brad Vernon
Karen Wintringham
Crystal Wyatt
Honorary Directors
William A. Brace
Arthur A. Henzell
Peter Jordano
Robert Kallman
Arthur R. Locker
Barbara Merritt
Director Emeritus
Edward R. McToldridge
deceased
Directions
- From U.S. 101, exit Cabrillo Boulevard
- Take East Cabrillo Boulevard to Niños Drive.
- The Zoo is on the right after 1/10 mile.
- The Zoo is approximately 30 minutes from Ventura, 50 minutes from the Santa Ynez Valley, and 90 minutes from Los Angeles.