Billiards for Bears
Questions?
Send an email to bears@phoenixaazk.org
History
Since 2010, the Phoenix Chapter of AAZK has been hosting its annual Billiards for Bears event. With six of the eight species of bears listed as endangered, PCAAZK recognized the need to increase awareness of the global threats facing bears while raising money to aid in bear conservation worldwide. From the beginning, Billiards for Bears has been a night of live music, games and prizes. Money raised goes to a variety of bear conservation organizations as well as back to PCAAZK to fund continuing keeper education. The event was an immediate success, sending money to the Andean Bear Project, AZA's Bear TAG and Free the Bears in its first two years.
Activities and Prizes
The main affair of Billiards for Bears is a single-elimination pool tournament, but you don't have to be a pool shark to participate in the event. There is live music to listen to, carnival-themed games to play, and raffles to enter. Each of these games offers unique prizes which are donated by local and national companies, such as the Phoenix Zoo, Alaskan Brewing Co. and Go Picnic. Raffle items have included paintings by the Phoenix Zoo's Andean bear, custom-made pool cues and artwork created by local artists.
Billiards for Bears 2011
The event was held at Clicks Billiards in central Phoenix. Our house band, Box of Rocks, played throughout the night, and we had new tournament participants and winners! The games, raffle and tournament were all big successes, and we were able to raise over $2700 for bear conservation and continuing keeper education. We look forward to hosting our third annual Billiards for Bears event in early 2012.
Conservation
75% of funds raised through Billiards for Bears supports bear conservation efforts around the world and 25% benefits the Phoenix Chapter of AAZK. In 2010 PCAAZK donated portion to the Andean Bear Project in Ecuador. This money went to rehabilitation costs for Bubu, an orphaned Andean bear, who was released in the mountains of Ecuador in March, 2011 to live life as a wild bear. Additional proceeds from 2010 were donated to AZA's Bear TAG. In 2011, PCAAZK will send 50% of the money raised to the Andean Bear Project to help the organization begin to build its new sanctuary. The sanctuary will house bears that have been orphaned and are unable to return to the wild. 25% of funds will go to Free the Bears in Vietnam to help purchase enrichment for bears rescued from the bear bile trade. PCAAZK will keep the remaining proceeds from 2011's event to fund continuing zoo keeper education programs.
