2026 ZOOBILEE GALA: BLOOMING IN THE DESERT
Presented by Rita Stec and Lance Eldred
SOLD OUT
Please call 760-674-8853 or email [email protected] if you would like to be added to the waiting list should we receive a cancellation.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
5:30pm – 9:00pm
Join us for a night of passion and purpose featuring cocktails, a live auction, dinner, and dancing.
5:30pm | Cocktail Reception and Animal Encounters
7:00pm | Dinner, Live Auction, and Program
8:30pm | Entertainment
Attire: Wildly Elegant Cocktail
Emcee: Mary Strong, NBC Palm Springs
Auction Host: Brian Harnik, Esq.
Charity Auctioneer: Dale Johannes
Entertainment: UPTOWN
The Zoobilee Gala is our largest fundraising event of the season. Your support will bring the wonders of the desert to life and help us tell the stories of some of the world’s most endangered species.
This year’s Zoobilee Gala will be an intimate affair with limited seating. Join us for a night of passion and purpose featuring cocktails, a live auction, dinner and dancing.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor – $100,000
Rita Stec and Lance Eldred
Diamond Sponsor – $75,000
Rick Waddell and Lesley Halverson
Platinum Sponsors – $50,000
Baltzell Family and
Michael and Stacy Schlinger Family Foundation
Gold Sponsors – $25,000 plus
Bob Archer and Chuck Hilliar
Argyros Family Foundation
H. N. & Frances C. Berger Foundation
Suz Hunt
Debbie and Art Jacobson – change to Deborah and Arthur Jacobson
McGrath Family
Ritz Family Foundation
Sally Simonds – Cocktail Reception Patron
Steve Tobin and Johnny Krupa, Grace Helen Spearman Foundation
Tonamora Foundation
Marcy Tonkin – Cocktail Entertainment Patron
U.S. Bank – Dessert and Entertainment Patron
Shaughne Warnack
Table Captain Sponsors – $15,000 plus
Suzan and Bill Appel
City of Rancho Mirage
D. W. Johnston Construction, Inc.
Cathy and Bill Dickson
Karla Kjellin-Elder and Jeff Elder
Marylynn and Andy Gladstein
Stan and Ros Hack
Brooke Koehler
Edie McCarthy
Gail Dutton, Mary Jo and Al Means, and Sue and Tim Timken
Event Sponsors – $10,000 plus
Jackie and Curt Ealy
Sandy Kachlein – Event Patron
Diane and Mike Morrison – AV/Production Patron
Palm Springs Life – Media/Advertising Patron
Thomas Patrick and Stephen Rulo – Wine Patron
Jan Salta – Valet Patron
Event Sponsors – $5,000 plus
Gala Co-Chairs Nancy Stegehuis & Sandy Woodson – Invitation Patron
Anne Christensen and Arne Ness – Event Patron
Susie and Wayne Harvey – Raise the Paw Paddle Patron
Mikey Herring and Jim Phelps – Event Patron
Squire and Angie Junger – Photo Patron
Pat and Dave Lamb – Hotel Patron
Loretta Lustig
Jneil Ludwick Nelson – Table Centerpiece Patron
Bonnie and Paul Racano – Swag Bag Patron
Lynne Rudnick – Animal Encounters Patron
Judy Sanders – Specialty Cocktail Drink Patron
Lori and Aubrey Serfling – Event Patron
Pam and Bill Simpkins – Safety & Security Patron
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Whitewater Rock & Supply
Live Auction and Swag Bag Business Donors
Atlas Ocean Voyages
The Armstrong Collective, Canyon Spirit Railway
Berckemeyer Consulting Group
BG’s El Paseo
BMW/Thermal Club
Brandini Toffee
Castelli’s Ristorante
The Crawford Hotel
Cypress Inn – Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Dahl Restaurant Group
Democracy
Desert Town Hall
El Paseo Jewelers
Foxy’s Kitchen & Bar
Hotel Paseo
Jo Malone
The Kimpton Rowan, Palm Springs
Kitchen 86
La Paon on El Paseo
La Fe Wine Bar
Lotus Garden Center
McCallum Theatre
Mitch’s on El Paseo
Mojave Resort, Palm Desert
Nobu
Oceans Restaurant
Pacifica Restaurants
Piero’s Pizza Vino
The Pink Cabana
Porsche Newport Beach
Ristorante Momma Gina
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Sedona Drifters
Sensei Porcupine Creek
Si Bon
Skin Lab, Cosmetic Surgery Institute
Mark Sofonio, MD
Tlaquepaque Village
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort
Toscana Country Club
Waldo’s Ristorante
Wally’s Desert Turtle
Willie’s Modern Fare
Click below to relive the highlights from the 2025 Zoobilee Gala.
With thanks to our Production Partner, Momentous Events
2026 ZOOBILEE GALA: BLOOMING IN THE DESERT
Presented by Rita Stec and Lance Eldred
SOLD OUT
Please call 760-674-8853 or email [email protected] if you would like to be added to the waiting list should we receive a cancellation.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
5:30pm – 9:00pm
Join us for a night of passion and purpose featuring cocktails, a live auction, dinner, and dancing.
5:30pm | Cocktail Reception and Animal Encounters
7:00pm | Dinner, Live Auction, and Program
8:30pm | Entertainment
Attire: Wildly Elegant Cocktail
Emcee: Mary Strong, NBC Palm Springs
Auction Host: Brian Harnik, Esq.
Charity Auctioneer: Dale Johannes
Entertainment: UPTOWN
The Zoobilee Gala is our largest fundraising event of the season. Your support will bring the wonders of the desert to life and help us tell the stories of some of the world’s most endangered species.
This year’s Zoobilee Gala will be an intimate affair with limited seating. Join us for a night of passion and purpose featuring cocktails, a live auction, dinner and dancing.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor – $100,000
Rita Stec and Lance Eldred
Diamond Sponsor – $75,000
Rick Waddell and Lesley Halverson
Platinum Sponsors – $50,000
Baltzell Family and
Michael and Stacy Schlinger Family Foundation
Gold Sponsors – $25,000 plus
Bob Archer and Chuck Hilliar
Argyros Family Foundation
H. N. & Frances C. Berger Foundation
Suz Hunt
Debbie and Art Jacobson – change to Deborah and Arthur Jacobson
McGrath Family
Ritz Family Foundation
Sally Simonds – Cocktail Reception Patron
Steve Tobin and Johnny Krupa, Grace Helen Spearman Foundation
Tonamora Foundation
Marcy Tonkin – Cocktail Entertainment Patron
U.S. Bank – Dessert and Entertainment Patron
Shaughne Warnack
Table Captain Sponsors – $15,000 plus
Suzan and Bill Appel
City of Rancho Mirage
D. W. Johnston Construction, Inc.
Cathy and Bill Dickson
Karla Kjellin-Elder and Jeff Elder
Marylynn and Andy Gladstein
Stan and Ros Hack
Brooke Koehler
Edie McCarthy
Gail Dutton, Mary Jo and Al Means, and Sue and Tim Timken
Event Sponsors – $10,000 plus
Jackie and Curt Ealy
Sandy Kachlein – Event Patron
Diane and Mike Morrison – AV/Production Patron
Palm Springs Life – Media/Advertising Patron
Thomas Patrick and Stephen Rulo – Wine Patron
Jan Salta – Valet Patron
Event Sponsors – $5,000 plus
Gala Co-Chairs Nancy Stegehuis & Sandy Woodson – Invitation Patron
Anne Christensen and Arne Ness – Event Patron
Susie and Wayne Harvey – Raise the Paw Paddle Patron
Mikey Herring and Jim Phelps – Event Patron
Squire and Angie Junger – Photo Patron
Pat and Dave Lamb – Hotel Patron
Loretta Lustig
Jneil Ludwick Nelson – Table Centerpiece Patron
Bonnie and Paul Racano – Swag Bag Patron
Lynne Rudnick – Animal Encounters Patron
Judy Sanders – Specialty Cocktail Drink Patron
Lori and Aubrey Serfling – Event Patron
Pam and Bill Simpkins – Safety & Security Patron
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Whitewater Rock & Supply
Live Auction and Swag Bag Business Donors
Atlas Ocean Voyages
The Armstrong Collective, Canyon Spirit Railway
Berckemeyer Consulting Group
BG’s El Paseo
BMW/Thermal Club
Brandini Toffee
Castelli’s Ristorante
The Crawford Hotel
Cypress Inn – Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Dahl Restaurant Group
Democracy
Desert Town Hall
El Paseo Jewelers
Foxy’s Kitchen & Bar
Hotel Paseo
Jo Malone
The Kimpton Rowan, Palm Springs
Kitchen 86
La Paon on El Paseo
La Fe Wine Bar
Lotus Garden Center
McCallum Theatre
Mitch’s on El Paseo
Mojave Resort, Palm Desert
Nobu
Oceans Restaurant
Pacifica Restaurants
Piero’s Pizza Vino
The Pink Cabana
Porsche Newport Beach
Ristorante Momma Gina
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Sedona Drifters
Sensei Porcupine Creek
Si Bon
Skin Lab, Cosmetic Surgery Institute
Mark Sofonio, MD
Tlaquepaque Village
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort
Toscana Country Club
Waldo’s Ristorante
Wally’s Desert Turtle
Willie’s Modern Fare
Click below to relive the highlights from the 2025 Zoobilee Gala.
With thanks to our Production Partner, Momentous Events
