Audubon at Bent of the River to Host "Give Local" Fundraiser "Pancake Dinner" at Chip's Next Tues., May 3 - Tickets Available

As part of their ambitions during the Connecticut Community Foundation’s “Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills” campaign for 2016, on Tuesday, May 3rd from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Audubon Center at Bent of the River in Southbury, in cooperation with Chip’s Restaurant of Southbury, will host a “pancake night” fundraiser at the restaurant for $10/person.

Audubon Center at Bent of the River Director, Leslie MacLise-Kane stated, “In 2015, the Audubon Center at Bent of the River secured nearly $12,000 in donations during the ‘Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills’ campaign. For 2016, we are looking forward to raising at least $15,000.”

On Tuesday, May 3rd, the Foundation’s ‘Give Local’ campaign will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4. During the 36-hour online community-giving event, donors are encouraged to support their local nonprofit organizations that work every day to make the community stronger.

“Each dollar donated to the Bent during the 36-hour campaign,” explained MacLise-Kane, “will be amplified with bonus funds donated to the Bent by the Foundation and their ‘Give Local’ sponsors. The more donations the Bent receives during the online campaign, the more the Bent becomes eligible to win cash prizes from the Foundation.”

As part of the “GiveLocal” campaign, Chip’s is hosting the special May 3rd dinners to help raise funds for the Audubon Center. Tickets for the dinners are $10/person and 100% of the funds raised will go directly to the Center. A total of 200 tickets will be sold, and reservations can be made for four seatings scheduled at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.

“To ensure seating reservations,” MacLise-Kane recommended, “tickets should be purchased in advance at www.bentoftheriver.audubon.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the Savings Bank of Danbury at 325 Main Street South in Southbury during regular business hours. In the event that all 200 tickets are not sold by Monday, May 2nd, only remaining tickets will be available at the door on May 3rd.”

Tickets entitle each holder to a prix fixe dinner of 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon or 2 sausages, coffee, tea and juice. There will be no substitutions for these menu items, and the ticket purchase does not include other menu items or gratuity.

During 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on May 3rd, all patrons at Chip’s Restaurant will be able to make donations to the Audubon Center online with the help of Audubon staff and volunteers on site. Donations made during those hours may help the Center also win prizes from the Connecticut Community Foundation.

The mission of the Audubon Center at Bent of the River is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats. Located along the Pomperaug River and bordering Little Pootatuck Brook, the nature center and sanctuary is a private, not-for-profit organization that protects over 700 acres of numerous natural ecosystems, habitats, un-fragmented forest, grasslands, meadows, swamps and a portion of the Pomperaug River.

There are more than 15 miles of hiking trails throughout The Bent on varied and beautiful terrains. The Bent features many ecosystems including deciduous and coniferous forest, rocky ledges, grasslands, old meadows, vernal pools, red maple swamps, and river habitats. The Audubon Center owns both sides of the Pomperaug River for almost one mile which is an undisturbed and wild environment where beaver, muskrat, river otter, and mink can be found, and where Bald eagles regularly fish.

More than 170 species of birds have been recorded among the Bent’s 700+ acres, and The Bent’s highly diverse eco-systems have been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Connecticut, protecting open land and wildlife over one square mile.

For more information on the Audubon Center at Bent of the River, please visit http://bentoftheriver.audubon.org, or call 203-264-5098.