BI-LO CHARITIES SELLING TICKETS FOR FIFTH ANNUAL SIPPIN’ SAFARI AT THE GREENVILLE ZOO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Elizabeth J. Baker
Erwin-Penland
864-672-3875
elizabeth.baker@erwinpenland.com
BI-LO CHARITIES SELLING TICKETS FOR FIFTH ANNUAL
SIPPIN’ SAFARI AT THE GREENVILLE ZOO
Wine-Tasting, Great Food and Silent Auction All Benefit Greenville Zoo’s Education Initiatives
GREENVILLE, S.C. (Aug. 9, 2010) – Each fall people come from around the Upstate to take part in one of the season’s greatest affairs, BI-LO Charities’ Sippin’ Safari. Now in its fifth year, the event offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the Greenville Zoo and bid on fabulous auction prizes while sampling a variety of top-notch wines, beers and cuisine.
This year’s event will be held Friday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m., rain or shine, and tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, Aug. 11. In the past four years, Sippin’ Safari has raised more than $50,000 for the Greenville Zoo.
Tickets for BI-LO Charities Sippin’ Safari are $30 per person in advance and can be purchased at the customer service counter of any BI-LO store in Greenville County, or for $40 at the entrance to the zoo the night of the event. The Greenville Zoo is located at 150 Cleveland Park Drive. VIP and designated driver tickets for Sippin’ Safari will be available for the first time this year. VIP tickets cost $50, and designated driver tickets, which include all food but no wine and beer sampling, are $15.
Whether couples are looking for a chance to get out for a date night, wine aficionados are interested in exploring offerings from multiple vineyards in a unique setting, or a group of friends are just trying to find something fun and exciting to do on a Friday night, BI-LO Charities’ Sippin’ Safari offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a one-of-a-kind event while also supporting a great cause.
All of the wines, beers and cuisine featured at Sippin’ Safari are supplied by BI-LO’s vendors and can be found at your local BI-LO store. The wine and beer selection will come from many different vineyards and breweries, and BI-LO’s Deli and Bakery will provide everything from fresh-sliced Sara Lee meats and cheeses to Sweet Dreams Custom Cakes and Gourmet Cookies.
“Word of this event has spread throughout the Upstate in the last four years. Our attendance has gone from 350 to an anticipated 900 attendees this year,” said BI-LO Charities Executive Director Carol Browning. “This is a great opportunity for adults to get out and enjoy the zoo, while they experience great food and drinks. The best part is that we are able to provide Greenville County school children a unique way to learn about the world of animals by funding the Zoo’s Ed-Zoo-Cation program, which brings animals and animal experts into the classroom for a great hands-on learning experience.”
“BI-LO Charities ongoing support has allowed for many great changes at the Greenville Zoo over the years in our education programs and throughout the zoo,” said Greenville Zoo Director Jeff Bullock.
All funds raised through ticket sales go directly to the Greenville Zoo’s Ed-Zoo-Cation programs. These dollars help support the zoo’s on-site educational facilities, its ability to broadcast instructive programs to classrooms across the area, and its mobile Ed-Zoo-Cation vehicle that brings the educational experience out into the community.
For more information about Sippin’ Safari or the Greenville Zoo, visit www.bi-locharities.org or www.greenvillezoo.com.
About BI-LO Charities Inc.
Formed in 1998, BI-LO Charities Inc. manages BI-LO’s extensive charitable giving programs, including the annual BI-LO Charity Classic golf tournament, which celebrated its 27th anniversary in June 2010. Since its inception in 1984, the BI-LO Charity Classic has raised more than $53 million to provide funding for non-profit organizations in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee that focus on three key initiatives: children’s issues, education and hunger relief. Headquartered in Mauldin, S.C., BI-LO operates 207 supermarkets and employs approximately 15,100 people.
# # #