2025 Gala & Auction
March 28th & 29th
We are excited to announce that Mzuri Wildlife Foundation’s 2025 The Big Event will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 in beautiful Monterey, California. Join us oceanside at the Intercontinental The Clement on Cannery Row. Enjoy stunning coastal views, fine wine and friends while bidding on exciting hunts, trips, and weekends near and far plus other fun auction packages.
On Friday, March 28th a special private cocktail reception and tour of the renown Monterey Bay Aquarium will kick off the weekend festivities. Come join the fun! Every dollar raised will support Mzuri Wildlife Foundation and the grants we give to small wildlife conservation and outdoor sports education programs around the world.
Honoree
Dr. Katalin Kádár Lynn
The Mzuri Wildlife Foundation is delighted to be awarding Dr. Katalin Kádár Lynn with the Steven E. Nelson Sportsman of the year award.
Dr. Katalin Kádár Lynn, born in Budapest in 1942, is a historian, publisher, and the Editor in Chief of Helena History Press, which focuses on Central and Eastern European history. Her research primarily centers on political exiles and intelligence during WWII and the Cold War. She is the author and editor of several academic works, including books on Tibor Eckhardt and Cold War organizations.
Dr. Kádár Lynn holds a PhD in 20th-century Hungarian history and has received numerous accolades, including the Gold Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Republic. She is also deeply involved in academic and professional associations, serving on various boards related to Hungarian studies and international history.
Dr. Katalin Kádár Lynn has had a long-standing involvement with the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation, a key organization dedicated to wildlife conservation in North America and Africa. She served on the foundation’s board for two decades and played a pivotal role as the principal fundraising chair. Her commitment to the foundation reflects her passion for wildlife preservation and conservation efforts globally. Additionally, her late husband, Douglas G. Lynn, was a former president of the Mzuri Hunting Club and the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation, further solidifying her deep connection to the organization and its mission.
Her leadership and contributions to Mzuri were essential in advancing the foundation’s goals of conservation and environmental stewardship, particularly in promoting responsible hunting practices and preserving wildlife. Through her active participation, she demonstrated a strong commitment to balancing her personal passion for hunting with a broader dedication to wildlife conservation.
Speakers
Sue Tidwell
Sue Tidwell is the multi-award-winning author of her debut title Cries of the Savanna.
Tidwell’s thirst for travel and adventure took her to the wilds of Tanzania as a reluctant sidekick on a big game hunting safari, where her boots-on-the-ground experiences opened her eyes to the reality of the wondrous…but also harsh, unforgiving, and complex land. Africa has a way of seeping into the blood, capturing the soul, and stealing the heart of anyone who steps upon its soil. Sue was no different. She returned to the states a changed person, full of passion to preserve Africa’s wildlife and bring awareness to the struggles of rural Africans. It is with this emotion and deep sense of urgency that she wrote Cries of the Savanna. An adventure. An awakening. A journey to understanding African Wildlife conservation.
When not at the keyboard, Sue can be found atop a paddleboard, enjoying the antics of her grandchildren, or engaged in the latest outdoor excursion with her husband.
Weekend Events
The Big Event Gala & Auction
Saturday, March 29, 2025
5 – 9pm
InterContinental, the Clement Monterey
750 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA
Black Tie Requested
Private Cocktail Reception and Tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Friday, March 28th, 2025
6:15 – 8 pm
The Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Road
Monterey, CA
Business Casual Requested
Tickets
The Big Event: $450 inclusive per person
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
M. Kevin and Karen Destruel
Cyndi Flannigan
Diamond Sponsors
George Sammut
Ken Wood
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities
Platinum Sponsor
- Includes one table of 10 with priority seating
- Select Wine Package: 6 bottles of special vintage red and 6 bottles of special vintage white available at the Gala table
- Access for 8 at Cocktail Party at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Signed copy of Guest Speaker Sue Tidwell’s Book, ‘Cries of the Savannah’
- Prominent sponsor placement in the Gala invitation
- Recognition in promotional materials and the Gala program
- Special Platinum Sponsor Gift
Diamond Sponsor
- Includes one table of 8 with preferred seating
- Access for 8 at Cocktail Party at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Signed copy of Guest Speaker Sue Tidwell’s Book, ‘Cries of the Savannah’
- Prominent sponsor placement in the Gala invitation
- Special Diamond Sponsor Gift
- Recognition in promotional materials and the Gala program
Gold Sponsor
- Includes one table of eight with preferred seating
- Access for 8 at Cocktail Party at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Signed copy of Guest Speaker Sue Tidwell’s Book, ‘Cries of the Savannah’
- Special Gold Sponsor Gift
- Recognition in the Gala invitation and the evening’s program
Silver Sponsor
- Includes one table of 8
- Access for 8 at Cocktail Party at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Signed copy of Guest Speaker Sue Tidwell’s Book, ‘Cries of the Savannah’
- Recognition in the Gala invitation and the evening’s program
Accommodations
InterContinental the Clement Monterey, an IHG Hotel
Address: 750 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 375-4500
Please use the link below to reserve your accommodations.
Questions? Need more info?
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for more information.