Washington, D.C. — Rock legends REO Speedwagon hosted a guitar giveaway to support Born Free USA, a leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, at their concert yesterday, December 15, at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio, Texas. The event raised about $3,000 for the organization, which will be used to care for the animals at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas. [teaserbreak]
According to Neal Doughty of REO Speedwagon, “Born Free USA has it right. Stick to your cats and dogs; some animals are not meant to be pets! Wildlife belongs in the wild.”
Audience members at the concert had the opportunity to enter to win a guitar autographed by the members of REO Speedwagon with proceeds benefiting Born Free USA’s Primate Sanctuary.
The 186 acre sanctuary in Dilley, Texas is home to 630 residents — 22 baboons, three vervets, and more than 600 macaques. It is the only one of its kind in the U.S. where the majority of its residents – ages two to 31 — live in free-ranging groups in natural enclosures of several acres, providing a safe, permanent home for its residents, many of whom were rescued from roadside zoos, research facilities, or private possession.
Adam Roberts, Executive Vice President of Born Free USA, said, “I have been a fan of REO Speedwagon for a quarter century and I am so thankful for their compassionate support of our work to save wildlife and the attention they are helping us bring to the important issues impacting animals today. The band has embraced our mission to keep Wildlife in the Wild, and we are grateful they are on board.”
Born Free USA plans a significant auction of other rock legend guitars throughout 2014. For more information, visit www.bornfreeusa.org.
Born Free USA is a nationally recognized leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers, now CEO of both organizations. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BornFreeUSA.
Media contact: Rodi Rosensweig, publicrelations@bornfreeusa.org, (203) 270-8929.