<h3>Coordinator</h3>
<p>Patty Pearthree</p>

<p>Sponsored by Blue Rhino - Coordinator, Patty Pearthree</p>
    
<p>"AAZK's Bowling for Rhinos-Sponsored by Blue Rhino" fund  raiser began on a small scale and is now an AAZK-sponsored North American event  raising over $300,000 annually. In 1990, we began by supporting the Lewa  Wildlife Conservancy (formerly Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary) in Kenya.</p>

<p>In 1994 we expanded our funding efforts to include Ujung  Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia and in 1996 to include Bukit Barisan  Selatan and Way Kambas National Parks in Sumatra, Indonesia. The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) oversees the use of funding in the Indonesian parks in  order to best protect endangered species.</p>

<p>AAZK Chapters and zookeepers at some zoos which have no  official chapter, hold bowl-a-thons (or similar events), enlisting sponsors for  bowlers and outright cash donations. One hundred percent of the money generated  from this conservation fund raiser goes to protect rhinos.</p>

<p><strong>Since its inception, Bowling for Rhinos has raised over $3 million for rhino conservation efforts.</strong></p>

<p>The Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) event has gained momentum  every year and continues to grow in participation and financial success. Over  the past few years, AAZK, Inc. has been able to provide Lewa Wildlife  Conservancy with a single engine spotter airplane, a large transport truck for  the relocation of animals, solar-powered electrical fencing for the preserve,  etc. BFR now supplies part of Lewa's $850,000 annual operating budget. BFR  provides much needed boats, uniforms and funding for training and operation  of poaching guards (Rhino Patrol Units) in Indonesia.</p>
  
<p>While the flagship species for this fund raiser  is the rhino, by providing financial assistance for the support of protected  rhino sanctuaries, the project also protects many other species of animals as  well as habitats. More information about Bowling for Rhinos may be found on the  Bowling for Rhino's Website:
  <a href="http://www.aazkbfr.org">http://www.aazkbfr.org.</a></p>
  
<p>There is a new Yahoo groups email for Bowling For Rhino  Coordinators. If you would like to be part of this email group, please email  Barbie Wilson at <a href="mailto:rhinobarbie@hotmail.com">rhinobarbie@hotmail.com</a>.  This will let you communicate with each other on questions about t-shirts, bowling  alley prices, how to get more support from your zoo, etc. with other BFR  coordinators.</p>

<p><a href="/about/committee/bowling-for-rhinos/lewa-safaris/">Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Safaris</a></p>

<p><a href='/wp-content/uploads/lewa_capital_request_2008.pdf'>Urgent Capital request from Lewa!</a></p>

<h3>Bowling For Rhinos  Announcement for 2008</h3>

<p>The distribution of "AAZK's Bowling For Rhinos-sponsored by Blue Rhino" funds will follow these guidelines in 2008:</p>

<p>Blue Rhino Gas donation ($20,000/year - Split 50/50 between LWC and IRF):<br />
$10K to LWC (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya)<br />
$10K to IRF (The International Rhino Foundation)</p>

<p>Funds are added to total BFR (Bowling For Rhinos) share.</p>

<p>LWC receives the first $150,000 raised by BFR/year, plus $10K from Blue Rhino, guaranteed if BFR funds reach $150,000. All BFR funds over $150,000 will now go directly to The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) for use in the Indonesian Rhino Parks of Ujung Kulon, Way Kambas, and Bukit Barisan Selatan. IRF gets the $10,000 from Blue Rhino added to their share. The AAZK Board of Directors will be discussing the distribution of BFR funds during their Board meetings. They hope to come up with a distribution program of funds that will better suite all parties as BFR continues to grow.</p>

<p>2007 Bowling For Rhinos events raised over $316,000. This was the best year on record as the increasing trend continues. Congratulations for a fabulous year! Bowling For Rhinos will soon break the $3 million mark and we continue to reach for attaining our goal of $500,000/year! Together AAZK can do it. We have and we will continue to make a difference in the conservation world. Please send me your organization's contact person/contact info ASAP along with the date of your event. Reminder, there is a $25 registration fee for BFR events which covers administrative costs so that 100% of all donation can go directly to rhino conservation. Please see <a href="http://aazkbfr.org/">http://aazkbfr.org</a> or contact Patty Pearthree: <a href="mailto:ppear3@pear3.org">ppear3@pear3.org</a>. We hope to merge the BFR website onto the AAZK this year. </p>