Today, on Lucky St. Patrick’s Day, we are launching a big fundraising drive that will end on the chimpanzees’ 2nd anniversary in sanctuary and Negra’s honorary birthday – June 13, 2011. We’re announcing it to blog readers first so you can be the first to participate.

Thanks to LUSH and the blog drive initiated by Anna K., we will soon be replacing three caged windows with chimp-proof glass. We want to be able to replace three more for Negra and all of the Cle Elum Seven, but we need to make sure we cover our operating expenses first.

We do everything we can to keep our costs low, including making use of our incredible volunteer community and a great network of in-kind donations. This helps us spend 90 cents out of every dollar donated directly on our programs! The first $30,00 of the donations we receive over the next three months will go toward the day-to-day costs of caring for the chimpanzees, but we’d like to raise even more for some extra sunshine for the Cle Elum Seven. So, between today and June 13th, if we raise $35,000, we’ll replace one window, $40,000 two windows, and $45,000 three caged windows with chimpanzee-proof glass. You all know how much the chimps love the glass windows, so I know you’ll be motivated to help us reach our ultimate goal.

The first $4500 in donations will be matched by a pledge from our board of directors and staff, so we’re well on our way already! Perhaps blog readers can take on this initial challenge before we announce the fundraising to a wider audience next week. We are including income from all sources starting today – online, checks sent through the mail, facebook donations, money raised through Firstgiving, new Chimpanzee Pals, Sponsor-a-Day donations, etc. Even if you don’t have the funds to donate yourself, you can participate. Start a Firstgiving page and recruit others to donate – they are easy to set up and include fundraising tips when you sign up for your page. You could also have a fundraising dinner at your house, hold a garage sale, sell your wares on ebay, or do whatever is in your heart to raise funds for your chimpanzee friends. Let us know what you’re planning by emailing. We’d be happy to send you brochures or anything else you might need to share with others.

We will be awarding prizes to those who raise the most money, both through personal donations and through recruiting others to donate. We will provide regular updates on the blog, and you can also check out the progress and get more details on our Help Us Fundraise page.

Please join the fun in providing for the Cle Elum Seven and celebrating two years in sanctuary and give today!