| Dinner
with a Dinosaur VII Highlights
Project Exploration board members and Dinner with a Dinosaur cochairs join NBC 5 anchor LeeAnn Trotter alongside paleontologist Dr. Paul Sereno’s latest discovery, nicknamed “BoarCroc.” Left to right: Paul Sereno, Myra Reilly, Tony Shaneen (Dinner Chair), Elizabeth Coolidge (Dinner Chair), Cece Matot Hartman (Dinner Chair) Phoebe Selden, and Gabrielle Lyon (Executive Director).In front: LeeAnn Trotter.
Photo © M. Greer |
Project Exploration hosted its seventh annual benefit dinner on Friday, May 4 at the Chicago Cultural Center to raise funds for their work to change the face of science. Known for giving guests a “sneak peak” at new scientific discoveries, this year’s event featured a toothy discovery nicknamed “BoarCroc” that lived in Africa over 90 million years ago.
A dinner guest participates in one of the science activities
led by
Project Exploration students.
Photo © M. Greer |
The science education organization also honored Stephen Barney and the Barney Family Foundation for helping to further its mission of making science more accessible to the public by partnering with Project Exploration to establish a new field camp in Montana.
“This event is right in line with Project Exploration’s work. It is a fun event that allows guests to experience that excitement of discovery,” said Gabrielle Lyon, Project Exploration’s executive director and cofounder. Dinner was preceded by a cocktail reception that immersed guests in hands-on discovery featuring student-run biology experiments and interactions with live snakes, lizards, and crocodiles.
Project Exploration supporters David Schwartz (center) with Charlie and Kayla, get hands-on with science and discovery
at Project Exploration’s
Dinner with a Dinosaur.
Photo © M. Greer
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The spotlight continued to shine on the organization’s students during the seated dinner as NBC 5 news anchor LeeAnn Trotter introduced Project Exploration alumnus who are now in college pursuing degrees in science. Edna Angeles, a Chicago Public School graduate and Latina Project Exploration alum, expressed her appreciation to Project Exploration supporters for helping minority youth get—and stay—interested in science. Angeles currently attends Daley Community College and is training to be a scientific illustrator.
Stephen Barney and the Barney Family Foundation were recognized with the Compass Award for guiding Project Exploration. Speaking to the crowd of 400, Barney announced that he had purchased 50,000 acres of fossil-rich land in Montana with the intent of shaping it into a permanent outpost for Project Exploration’s students and teachers, complete with a research lodge and star-gazing facility. Project Exploration will utilize the new Lost In Time Ranch this summer as it brings Chicago Public School teachers to the field for a professional development program.
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About Stephen Barney and the Barney Family Foundation
Stephen Barney enjoyed a long career within the financial industry, primarily with American Century Mutual Funds. After twenty years as a portfolio liaison for American Century, he decided to sell his holdings. The Chester Foundation and the Barney Family Foundation were subsequently born out of his desire to aid those financially less fortunate. Named after Stephen Barney’s father, the Foundations are based upon Chester Barney's strong fundamental values of honesty, integrity, and empathy. |
Photo © M. Greer |
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Nearly stealing the show was a never-before-seen fossilized crocodile discovered in the southern Sahara, Niger by paleontologist Dr. Paul Sereno. In 2000, he and his team unearthed the 20-foot-long reptile, which had been well-adapted to both water and land. Two pairs of protruding, interlocking fangs give it its nickname, “BoarCroc.”
Chairing Dinner with a Dinosaur were Elizabeth Coolidge of Lehman Brothers, Cece Matot Hartman of Matot, Inc., and Anthony Shaneen of OAS Software. Event sponsorship was provided by the National Geographic Education Foundation, Motorola, and Philip and Marsha Dowd. The event grossed over $210,000 to support science programs for youth, services for schools and teachers, public exhibits, and online initiatives.
“Project Exploration uses the long-ago past to get kids thinking about their futures. They begin to understand that the earth is always changing, how what happened years ago affects life today and, consequently, how what we do today affects tomorrow,” said president and cofounder Dr. Paul Sereno.
Mark Hammergren of Adler Planetarium, Gabrielle Lyon of Project Exploration, Stephen Barney of Barney Family Foundation, and Paul Tamraz from Motorworks celebrate the announcement of Lost in Time Ranch, a permanent field outpost for Project Exploration
students and teachers.
Photo © M. Greer
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