• Edith McBean and Dr. G. Carleton Ray will be honored for their conservation efforts
  • Distinguished conservationist George Schaller among attendees

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Sept. 22, 2010 – The Wildlife Conservation Society will hold the annual Dinner by the Sea benefit at WCS’s New York Aquarium today, Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s honorees are Vice Chair of the WCS Board of Trustees, Edith McBean, who will receive the Distinguished Leadership in Conservation Award, and Dr. G. Carleton Ray, who will receive the Achievement in Conservation Award.

Highlights will include updates on A Sea Change at the New York Aquarium — a visionary public-private partnership that will transform the aquarium into one of the premier tourist destinations in the Northeast and inspire people to care about the ocean world. The update will include the latest on the New York Seascape initiative, a long-term marine conservation program focusing on the waters surrounding New York City and a key component to A Sea Change at the New York Aquarium.

Dinner by the Sea will raise critical funds for the WCS’s New York Aquarium and its mission to educate visitors and protect local and global marine life. This year’s event will feature a live auction conducted by Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby’s. A selection of unique items will be auctioned including:

  • The opportunity to name the aquarium’s new California sea lion pup
  • A chartered SCUBA adventure in New York waters
  • A trip for four to Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve and Research Station in Belize
  • A sterling silver belt buckle by Barry Kieselstein-Cord


What: Wildlife Conservation Society’s “Dinner by the Sea” event

Who:
Dr. Steven E. Sanderson, WCS President and CEO
Dr. George Schaller, WCS Senior Conservationist
*Edith McBean, WCS Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
*Dr. G. Carleton Ray
Jon Forrest Dohlin, Director, WCS’s New York Aquarium

* This year’s honorees

When: Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010
6:30 p.m.: Reception
7:30 p.m.:  Dinner

Where:  WCS’s New York Aquarium
Surf Avenue & West 8th Street
Brooklyn, New York

Special Note to Media:  Please RSVP to Barbara Russo by email; brusso@wcs.org or by phone: 718-465-3428; cell: 917-494-5493.   

CONTACT:    

Barbara Russo - 718-465-3428; Cell: 917-494-5493 brusso@wcs.org
Steve Fairchild – 718-220-5189; Cell: 914-263-8179 sfairchild@wcs.org

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide.  We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. www.wcs.org.

Special Note to the Media: If you would like to guide your readers or viewers to a web link where they can support these projects, please direct them to: www.wcs.org/donation.