Betty White and Carolyn Hennesy headline the LA Zoo's Beastly Ball

Actresses Betty White and Carolyn Hennesy headlined a media preview for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's BEASTLY BALL fund-raiser at a morning event on June 11, 2015, at the Zoo featuring chefs from iconic Los Angeles restaurants serving dishes inspired by their favorite LA Zoo baby animals, among them hippos, giraffes and even piranhas.  

All pictures by Jamie Pham

(l-r) GLAZA Co-Chairman Betty White, Tom LaBonge, Beastly Ball honoree and Los Angeles City Councilmember, 4th District, and actress, animal rescue advocate and long-time GLAZA supporter Carolyn Hennesy

White, who is Co-Chairman, Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), opened the brief program previewing the 45th Annual Beastly Ball on June 20, which honors Los Angeles City Council Member Tom LaBonge (District 4), 99 Cents Only Stores, and singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, author and philanthropist Lance Bass of pop band 'NSYNC fame, who receives the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award. 

Pink's Famous Hot Dogs offered CHILI DOGS WITH SPOTS OF MUSTARD to represent the L.A. Zoo's giraffes, including baby Leo

Also speaking were GLAZA President Connie Morgan, GLAZA Co-Chairman Richard Lichtenstein, Los Angeles Zoo Director John Lewis, Tom LaBonge, Beastly Ball honoree and Los Angeles City Councilmember, 4th District, and Mike Botterman, VP Merchandising and Buying, representing 99 Cents Only Stores, Beastly Ball honoree. Actress, animal rescue advocate and long-time GLAZA supporter Carolyn Hennesy introduced the restaurants, which were El Cholo– Los Angeles, Hard Rock Café (Hollywood), Pink's Famous Hot Dogs (LA), El Coyote Mexican Café (LA), Yummy Cupcakes (Burbank),Celestino Ristorante (Pasadena), Canele (Glendale), Jersey Mike's (Pasadena, South Pasadena and La Canada), Antonio's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant (Sherman Oaks), Malbec Argentinean Cuisine (Toluca Lake), Ushuaia Argentinean Steakhouse (Santa Monica), Taste of the Wild Catering at the Los Angeles Zoo and Sam's By the Beach (Santa Monica).  

Jersey Mike's in Pasadena, South Pasadena and La Canada served SUB SANDWICHES IN THE FORM OF "MIKE THE GIRAFFE" who is from – where else? -- Jersey

These same restaurants donate their cuisine for guests at the Beastly Ball, which is the main fund-raiser held by GLAZA, a private, non-profit organization that raises money for the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. 

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