For the first time in 44 years, the Hancock Whitney
Zoo-To-Do event, held at the Audubon Zoo annually and originally scheduled for September 11, 2020, has been cancelled.
The CEO and president of Audubon Nature Institute Ron Forman said that the
event will "come back better and stronger in 2021." This year's edition of the
fundraising event has been cancelled due to uncertainty related to how the
COVID-19 pandemic will progress in the upcoming months. The Audubon Nature Institute
has suffered from a significant financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic
since its facilities closed on March 14. The Institute cancelled the event in order
to protect "the health and well-being of the people of the Gulf South."
Despite the cancellation of the main event, however, the
2020 Hancock Whitney Zoo-To-Do Auction and the Luxury Vehicle Raffle drawing
will still take place as planned. Both events will be held online. Supporters
had the chance to donate items until the first of August. The auction is
expected to go live on the 28th of August and will run until
September 13. One of the items featured is a "Pelicans Away Trip," the winners of
which will have the chance to go on a road trip with the New Orleans Pelicans
and attend two away games during the 2020-2021 season. An emerald necklace from
Friend & Co. will also be auctioned, as well as an all-inclusive
three-night stay at a Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, California.
This year's Luxury Vehicle Raffle will feature a 2020 Lexus
UX200 worth $35,053, which was donated by Lexus New Orleans. Raffle tickets cost
$100, and the Audubon Nature Institute sold a limited number of 1,000
tickets that have, unfortunately, already sold out.The winner will be announced on September
11 at 10:30 p.m.
