An Exotic Evening in India

Discover the rich history and culture of India at Lowry Park Zoo’s annual black tie charity dinner gala Karamu XIX. The event to be held on Saturday, April 28 promises to be a lavish night of elegance with elaborate decorations, culinary cuisine and dancing into the night, all to raise funds to benefit animal care and education programs at Tampa’s zoo.

Board member Erika Anderson has attended Karamu as a guest for the past eight years and agreed to chair this year’s fundraiser. “The zoo’s gala stands out in my mind as a really enjoyable function, even a family affair,” said Anderson. “It’s small enough where you can visit with all the people you know, but large enough to be very entertaining.”

Anderson lent a hand to last year’s event with her interior decorating skills, and this year developed the theme “Treasures of India.” “We wanted an elegant look, but something that would also represent the zoo. We chose a peacock as inspiration for a color scheme and décor. The tables and accents will reflect the jewel tones of peacock feathers for an exotic look,” said Anderson.

As a resident of Tampa and growing up coming to the zoo, she now brings her 5-year-old son, Nicholas, to enjoy the animals. Anderson is active in the Association of Interior Designers (ASID) and also a volunteer at her son’s school, St. John’s Episcopal. “I wanted to do something for the community and to volunteer, and with my love of animals, the zoo was a natural choice for me,” said Anderson.

Steve and
Erika Anderson enjoy bringing son Nicholas to the Lowry Park Zoo.

Karamu, the Swahili word for “party,” begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. A seated dinner presented by Outback Catering will be served, with music and dancing to follow. A silent auction will take place all evening, and this year’s raffle prize is a $5,000 shopping spree to Saks Fifth Avenue.

Sponsored by AmSouth Bank, Karamu is by invitation only.
For ticket information, call 813-935-8552, ext. 239 or visit www.lowryparkzoo.com.