Kellie Rowan, right, gives a snack to Koko, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, while Kathy Imel and Judy Kimminau witness the moment. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Charlie Monfort; Denver Zoo President and CEO, Shannon Block; and representing Davita, Jodi and Javier Rodriguez. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Shannon Block, Doug Friednash, Tamra Ward, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, and Terri Benjamin. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Jill and George Pond, Tamra Ward, and Dustin Whistler. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 201
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
The soon-to-be-wedded Anne Serrano and Charlie Wright with Amber Christopher. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
From The Oceanaire Seafood Room: Garlic- and herb-marinated bay shrimp taco with roasted sweet corn salsa and cotija cheese. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Ryan and Kara Contillo. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Lou and Sue Clinton. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
"Rosa," a male boa constrictor, is greeted by Frankie O'Donnell, right. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Rachel and Namordi Eval. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
John Eisinger, Denny and Liza Coughlin, and Kelly Eisinger. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Taylor Brantley and her mother, Alison Brantley. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Part of the new tiger area under construction. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
Representing Anadarko: Stephanie Moreland, Robin Olsen, Carrie Horton, and Philip Holmes. "Do At The Zoo," benefiting the Denver Zoo, at the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
The phrase “feeding time at the zoo” took a delicious twist June 16 when the 4,000 exotic beasts that call the Denver Zoo home stood by as a horde of two-legged critters arrived for a walkabout supper that, unlike the rodents, earthworms and grasshoppers that are animal kingdom staples, included treats ranging from beef tenderloin sliders to banana pudding drizzled with salted caramel.
Sixty of the city’s top restaurants, distilleries, breweries and wineries participated in the 27th annual Do At The Zoo, a benefit for the popular facility’s conservation, scientific and education programs. Net income was still being tallied at press time, but it is expected to be in the high-six figures.
Kent Thiry and Javier Rodriguez chaired the event with their wives, Denise O’Leary and Jodi Rodriguez. Thiry, the co-chairman and CEO of DaVita Healthcare Partners, and his wife were unable to attend as he was recuperating from surgeries to repair a broken shoulder, three broken ribs and pulmonary contusion sustained in a June 12 bicycling mishap in California. Javier Rodriguez, president and CEO of DaVita’s kidney care division, reported that Thiry was recovering nicely and is expected to be back in action soon.
Shannon Block, Denver Zoo’s president and CEO, joined board chair Lou Clinton in welcoming such valued supporters as Doug Friednash, chief of staff to Gov. John Hickenlooper; Boettcher Foundation chief Tim Schultz and his wife, Debbie Jessup, executive director of the Anschutz Family Foundation; Scott Coors and Dr. David Hurt; Deborah Jordy, executive director of Colorado Business Committee for the Arts; Priya and Matthew Burkett (she is director of strategic accounts for Xcel Energy; he is an investor, philanthropist and founder of the Flyfisher Group); Eddie and Susan Robinson (he has served on the zoo board for 30-plus years and she chaired Do At The Zoo in its second year); Michael Niyompong, chief operating officer for Clayton Early Learning; Josh Davies, CEO at the Center for Work Ethic Development, and his wife, Lara; Leanna Clark, vice chancellor at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus; veterinarian Kevin Fitzgerald and Terri Benjamin; Connect for Health Colorado CEO Kevin Patterson with his wife, Sarie; and Anadarko Petroleum executives Stephanie Moreland, Robin Olsen, Carrie Horton and Philip Holmes, who were celebrating their company’s eighth year as presenting sponsor of Do At The Zoo.
Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post
“Rosa,” a male boa constrictor, is greeted by Frankie O’Donnell, right.
