A gorgeous summer night set the perfect ambiance Aug. 26 for Feast with the Beasts at the Toledo Zoo.

A highlight was the opportunity to feed the giraffes. The tallest giraffe, Mowgli, took the special crackers with his long tongue, while Elvira stood her distance with her baby, Tuli.

Then guests went back to dining under the cabana overlooking the wildlife. Centerpieces by Leslie Sterling featured bird of paradise flowers that gave the impression of giraffe heads on their long necks peeking out of the exotic grasses. Chef Sam Misiura created an artfully presented and tasty dinner.

Toledo Zoo executive director Anne Baker thanked everyone, including four-time presenting sponsor, PNC Bank, which also supports the ZOOtoDO event. The bank recently gave the zoo a grant to work with the Lucas County Head Start program to provide nature-themed, play-based learning opportunities to more than 600 children annually for three years. PNC's Tim Coleman and Debbie Ernsthausen handed out Jan Pugh giraffe-motif pottery plates to guests as a thank-you gift.

Among the current and past operating and foundation board members who attended were Zac Isaac, current operating board president, Mary Ellen Pisanelli, Barbara Steele, Elaine Canning, Marna Ramnath, PJ Johnson, Willard Emch, Gary Smith, Bob Sterling, Judith Conda, Rich Heck, Elizabeth Foley, Catherine Hoolahan, and John Szuch.

Several guests have returned each year, including Dorothy Mackenzie Price, who brought her daughter Susan Holleran this year, and Ron Coffman and Sharon Simmons, Jackie Rousseau-Werner, and Pat and Jim Appold, who helped develop the event nine years ago. Also seen were Ann Sanford, Carol and Mike Anderson, Linda Dunbar and Jack Phillips, Joel and Davie Epstein, John Hadley, Toby and Sue Cardone, George and Pat Eistetter, and many, many more.

Approximately $50,000 was raised.

First Published September 4, 2011, 4:15 a.m.