Cedar Run’s resident red fox, Ember, as well as hospitalized wildlife at the center, receive critical care and treatment at the nonprofit.
Proceeds will help pay for care and treatment of injured animals
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge is partnering with Cheers Wine & Spirits of Voorhees for one of its biggest fundraising events of the year on Saturday, July 15, at the Community House at Moorestown.
The goal is to raise $30,000 to pay for critical care and treatment of thousands of injured and or orphaned native wildlife. The refuge is a 171-acre nonprofit that includes a rehabilitation hospital and nature center on the edge of the Pinelands. It has nearly 60 native residents, and the hospital sees more than 6,000 wild animals each year.
Cedar Run’s hospitalized wildlife at the center receive critical care and treatment at the nonprofit.
The overall mission of Cedar Run is to serve as a community resource stressing the importance of protecting and enhancing healthy ecosystems. For Tracey Bloodworth, its director of development and communications, and Lisa Franco, development coordinator, the most important element of the refuge is to educate the public about wildlife encounters.
As much as refuge animals from Poe the Raven to Ember the Red Fox are seen as “wildlife education ambassadors” to their species, Bloodworth and Franco said it’s important to keep wildlife in the wild.
Cedar Run’s hospitalized wildlife at the center receive critical care and treatment at the nonprofit.
Cedar Run doesn’t turn any animal away, and those it can’t take are carefully transported to other facilities. The refuge also has an around-the-clock area where people can drop off animals they find.
Cedar Run’s hospitalized wildlife at the center receive critical care and treatment at the nonprofit.
More than a refuge
Jim and Betty Woodford bought the land the refuge sits on in 1951 in the wilds of Medford as a summer getaway. They built their first home with a view of the lake and founded Cedar Run, whose staff and board members continue the couple’s work, along with their daughter, Jeanne, a co-founder.
Cedar Run’s Nature Center and hiking trails are open to the public seven days a week. The refuge invites school groups and offers educational programs at parks and libraries, preschool and home-school classes and the Boys and Girl Scouts programs. It also hosts “wild” birthday parties and weddings.
The fundraiser
The Cedar Run fundraiser will include more than 120 wines, beer and spirits and special appearances will be made by some of its animals. Raffles have been donated from local businesses and silent auctions, as well as hand-selected vendors. Food will be available.
The refuge is also conducting a capital campaign to fund a permanent fox enclosure for Ember the fox. Its goal is $70,000.
Fundraiser hours will be 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are on sale at CedarRun.org and general admission ticket pricing will increase on Friday, July 7. The refuge is located at 4 Sawmill Road in Medford.
For more information, visit www.cedarrun.org.
