A celebrated group of New York’s Master Pastry
Chefs will kick off the 2004 holiday season with GINGERBREAD
HOMES FOR ANIMALS, an exhibition and fair at Central
Park’s Dana Discovery Center, to benefit New York’s
at-risk animal population. The event, set from Wednesday,
December 1st through Sunday, December 5th, will feature
each pastry maker’s creation of a unique gingerbread
house, inspired by an animal he or she loves. The one-of-a-kind
edible sculptures will be sold by raffle during the
five day fair and winners will be selected during its
closing afternoon. Admission to the exhibition and fair
is free.
GINGERGBREAD HOMES FOR ANIMALS is presented by Rational
Animal and hosted by a list of prestigious city gourmets
and animal-related organizations. Held during the holiday
season, its goal is to illuminate the plight of the
city’s most needy four-legged inhabitants and
raise awareness and funds for them. In addition to the
edible sculpture exhibit, the fair will feature a list
of daily activities including animal-related workshops
and lectures each day, crafts, face-painting for kids,
baked goods and treats. Some surprise guests are expected
to be announced in coming weeks.
Among the chefs set to create an original gingerbread
house for the exhibition is Susan Punturieri of Tribeca’s
heralded Chanterelle Restaurant, whose house will be
“A Snoopy Christmas.” Jurgen David, Tom
Jones and Toni Dickinson of the French Culinary Institute
are creating confectionary sculptures to honor sea creatures,
a dog named Fido, and a canary; Jeri Gottlieb of Flour
Girl Bakery will build a bird’s “Holiday
Music” house, and Colette Peters of Colette’s
Cakes is designing her birds’ gingerbread house,
“House for Fric and Frac.” Names of additional
participants will be announced as they become available.
Funds raised during the five-day event will directly
benefit The Picasso Fund, supporting costs of medical
services for homeless animals; and Rational Animal,
a non-profit organization whose mission is to grow public
awareness of New York’s at-risk and homeless animal
population.
GINGERBREAD HOMES FOR ANIMALS will be held at The Dana
Discovery Center (Central Park at 110th Street &
Lenox Avenue) from Wednesday, Dec 1st – Sunday,
Dec 5th, from 10AM-5PM daily. Details about the exhibition
and fair will be announced and posted as they become
available. The event’s website is: www.gingerbreadhomesforanimals.org.
Gingerbread Homes for Animals is made possible by:
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Rational Animal is a New York-based non-profit organization
that uses the power of media to promote the welfare
of New York’s at–risk animals. Through video
tools, media campaigns and innovative community projects,
Rational Animal increases public awareness about animals-in-need.
Whether promoting adoptions of homeless animals or developing
greater awareness of delicate animal nesting areas,
Rational Animal’s team of media professionals
communicate how people can take part in improving animal
welfare in their communities.
The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals is a coalition
of 70 animal shelters and rescue organizations working
with the City of New York toward the day when no New
York City dog or cat of reasonable health and temperament
is killed merely because he or she does not have a home.
The Alliance is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation
that has formed a public-private partnership with the
City of New York to develop creative solutions to deal
with issues of animal care and control in New York City.
PastryScoop.com is an online resource designed to inspire
and educate both pastry professionals and serious amateur
bakers. It provides free content on such topics as dessert
trends, baking tips, and food events in order to increase
overall awareness of the pastry arts and to promote
creativity within the field.
Founded in 1984, The French Culinary Institute teaches
culinary protocol, language, and techniques supporting
the creation of not only French dishes but also virtually
any dish in Western cuisine. The FCI offers separate
and diverse courses for both aspiring and working culinary
professionals and amateurs.
The ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective
means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout
the United States. The ASPCA offers national programs
in humane education, public awareness, government advocacy,
shelter support, and animal medical services and placement.
The ASPCA’s New York City headquarters houses
a full-service animal hospital, behavior center, adoption
facility, and Humane Law Enforcement Department.
Central Park Conservancy www.centralparknyc.org
The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore,
manage, and preserve Central Park, in partnership with
the public, for the enjoyment of current and future
generations. Since its founding in 1980, the Conservancy
has developed and implemented a major management and
restoration plan; performed major capital improvements;
created programs for volunteers and visitors; built
an endowment to ensure continued Park maintenance; and
set new standards of excellence in Park care.
Animal Care & Control (AC&C) (www.nycacc.org)
AC&C is the largest pet rescue organization in
New York State, rescuing over 45,000 lost and homeless
pets and 8,000 wild, exotic, and farm animals each year.
AC&C is the largest pet adoption agency in New York
City offering the widest selection of pet adoptions
in three convenient locations, seven days a week, from
noon to 7:00 p.m. AC&C is a 501c3 animal welfare
charitable organization dependent on your donations
for its life-saving programs, like The Big Fix, STAR,
FELIX, and Safety Net.
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