Hundreds Celebrate Earth Day 2008 at The Nature Conservancy's 14th Annual Hoochie on the Coochie

The Nature Conservancy's Annual Spring Fundraiser Nets $300,000 for Conservation

ATLANTA — April 28, 2008 —Held on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, The Nature Conservancy’s 14th annual spring fundraising event, the Hoochie on the Coochie dinner dance, celebrated recent conservation successes in Georgia while raising funds for conservation work throughout the state.

With the support of volunteer organizers, The Nature Conservancy raised $300,000 for conservation work, exceeding its goal by $33,000.

"This magical evening was a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the work we have done and raise funds so that we can continue to conserve wild places in Georgia for future generations," said Shelly Lakly, director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia. "We are grateful to our team of dedicated volunteer leaders and our corporate contributors and members who made this year’s event truly successful."

Chairing this year’s Hoochie on the Coochie were Hardman Knox and Jeannie Wright. Mr. and Mrs. Beverly DuBose III hosted the celebration on their property near Buckhead. This year, the event honored Linda and Cody Laird Jr. for their commitment to conservation. The Lairds have worked to protect and restore the longleaf pine ecosystems in south Georgia, and Cody has also been a trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia for more than nine years.

The Hoochie on the Coochie became known across the country when it was referenced in a question in the popular Trivial Pursuit game. This unique evening included musical entertainment by the Undergrounders, a birds of prey flight show and a silent auction with offerings of a variety of trips available to the highest bidder. Included in the auction were a six night adventure in South Africa and a visit to The Nature Conservancy’s Bear Mountain Lodge in New Mexico.

Corporate sponsors and other supporters of the Hoochie on the Coochie dinner dance included The Coca-Cola Company, Cox Enterprises, Georgia-Pacific, Georgia Power Company, Bank of America, Atlanta Gas Light, Blalock Lakes, Forestar Real Estate Group, Southwire Company, Forest Investment Associates, and Coro Realty Advisors.

Patrons of the event who made a contribution of $1,000 or more to The Nature Conservancy were invited to the Hoochie on the Coochie Patron Party on April 1. In honor of their father Anne and Cody Laird III hosted the Patron Party in their Atlanta home.

For more information about events and volunteer opportunities with The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, visit nature.org/georgia or call (404) 873-6946.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.