A letter from Gorilla Haven. Back in 1996 when Steuart and I established the Dewar Wildlife Trust, gasoline had just gone over $1 per gallon and steel prices were relatively stable. I had spent decades studying gorillas around the world and knew something like Gorilla Haven was not only desperately needed, but that Steuart and I would be the only ones willing and able to pull it off, using our own hard-earned money to initially fund the project. Knowing we had a sound, realistic business plan and sufficient funding to begin the huge undertaking, we adopted a “Field of Dreams” approach: “if we build it, they will come.” Today Gorilla Haven is home to two silverback gorillas – Joe and Oliver. Gorilla Haven is the world’s only private gorilla facility certified by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Skeptics are silent, and Gorilla Haven is considered a state-of-the-art facility, attracting the attention of zoo professionals from around the world. The two remaining gorilla “villas” and the huge Group Building are more than half-way completed, however construction has been temporarily halted, until funding can be secured for the future. But Gorilla Haven is much more than just two gorillas in North Georgia. The current financial difficulties mean our decades-long support of conservation projects in Africa and around the globe have also diminished, but we are hopeful we can resume that support once we insure funds for Gorilla Haven’s future. We now need your help! With the economic downturn, like everyone else, we are struggling. Our personal funding of Gorilla Haven must be supplemented by outside donations, in order to continue our important mission. Our remaining funds, originally targeted to complete construction, need to be reserved to ensure the on-going coverage of future operating costs. We are reaching out to animal lovers for help, so the gorillas on our waiting list, can be accepted at the facility, once construction is completed. There is no such thing as a “small” donation. Steuart and I don’t take a salary, and 100% of donations go directly into operating expenses, making the Dewar Wildlife Trust unique among most charities, where usually only a fraction of your dollar ends up helping animals. Your tax-deductible donation will help Gorilla Haven and will also enable the Dewar Wildlife Trust to continue its important support of educational programs and conservation efforts around the globe. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Sincerely, Jane & Steuart Dewar, Founder & CEO Gorilla Haven - The Dewar Wildlife Trust, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit Georgia corporation. TO DONATE: CLICK HERE: to donate via PayPal (you can pay with a credit card without opening a PayPal account!). Checks, money orders can be mailed to: Gorilla Haven P.O. Box 210 Morganton, GA, 30560, USA. our website is: Gorilla Haven Home Page Thank you!! can
