Goodall makes another effort for the cougars

Suzie Harrison

Making a rare second appearance in Laguna Beach, Jane Goodall will be

donating her time, as the featured speaker for “A Reason of Hope --

An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall,” a benefit for the Jane Goodall

Institute and the Cougar Fund on Saturday.

Hosted by The Heart and Soul Coalition whose mission is “Serving

the National Treasures of Orange County,” the benefit will also

feature world-renowned wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen and Cara

Blessley Lowe, both co-founders of the Cougar Fund.

Included in the evening will be a silent auction, an international

wildlife artist exhibit with works available for purchase by 12

artists, presentations and a book signing with Goodall.

Brenda Stouffer of the Heart and Soul Coalition has worked

diligently to bring the event to fruition this year.

“I saw a link between the three groups: wanting to protect,

preserve and balance is our common thread, the Heart and Soul

Coalition locally, the Cougar Fund nationally, and the Jane Goodall

Institute internationally,” Stouffer said.

Blessley Lowe said that last year’s event was a great success and

hopes this year will be just as powerful.

“We were so well received by the Laguna Beach community and Orange

County,” Blessley Lowe said. “It was really the timing and interest

of Brenda Stouffer of the Heart and Soul Coalition, a combination of

her interest to present the event was a deciding factor in doing it

again -- really it was Brenda stepping up to the plate, proposing and

presenting this for 2003.”

Blessley Lowe explained that the threatened status of Rancho

Mission Viejo was brought to their attention through the work of the

Orange County Heart and Soul Coalition.

“Given that one principal mission -- along with education and

preservation of the cougar habitat throughout the Americas, we were

naturally drawn to do this event with The Heart and Soul Coalition,”

Blessley Lowe said.

The proceeds from last year’s event along with other combined

funds raised -- helped retire 87,500 acres of grazing allotment that

borders the Grand Tetons and Yellow Stone National Park explained

Mangelsen and Blessley Lowe. They said it was important to let it go

back to nature.

“It relieves some pressure for wolves, mountain lions and grizzly

bears and protects the natural habitat of cougars and other

wildlife,” Mangelsen said.

Other important causes the Cougar Fund is a proponent for include

changing trophy hunting laws, setting aside land for cougar habitat

and the education of the value of cougars and the eco-system

Mangelsen explained.

“We’re hoping that through this year’s event -- to raise awareness

of the importance of the Rancho Mission Viejo land and the need for

sensitive development, that’s sensitive to the migration patterns of

all wildlife, especially cougars,” Blessley Lowe said.

Additionally, there will be an exclusive reception at 5 p.m. at

Richard MacDonald Fine Art located at 326 Glenneyre St. with tickets

priced at $100. “An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall” will commence at

the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Doors will

open at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25

for general admission, $100 for preferential seating and $12 for

students. Seating is still available, for tickets call (800)

487-3378.