Spotlight on Supporters

The Woodyard Family

Cheetah

Spotlight on Supporters: The Woodyards

By Cynthia Buckner, Development Assistant

Inspired by foxpaws’ ‘The Year of the Cheetah’ article in 2016, Jeffrey Woodyard—only twelve-years-old at the time—announced to his parents, Robyn and Scot, that he wanted to help save the magnificent cheetah from extinction. The family contacted The Living Desert about hosting a booth at Cubberly School’s Fall Carnival in Long Beach, CA. The Zoo provided plush animals and foxpaws copies while the family and volunteers solicited more donations for prizes and games. All told the booth raised $250.00 for conservation, which his grandparents and zoo members, Libby and Jeff Ames, graciously matched.

The following two years, Jeffrey’s younger brother Sam joined in and together they raised an astounding $1,500.00 each year! When Jeffrey graduated from Cubberly School in 2019, Sam continued the tradition. Their generous gifts were shared between The Living Desert and the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Africa. We are honored to be a part of meaningful stories like the Woodyards’!