PORTLAND, Oregon (November 16, 2009) –  A champion for orphaned and abused chimpanzees and a former Beaverton veterinarian, Dr. Sheri Speede will make a rare U.S. appearance at Laughing Planet Café on December 16th to share stories of her work at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which she founded in 1999. As a benefit for her center, and for In Defense of Animals-Africa, Speede will show what is happening to the chimp population in Africa, which has decreased 75% in the past 30 years, and how she risked her own life to rescue more than 66 chimps. The event is free and open to the public at Laughing Planet Café, 4110 SE Woodstock Blvd. beginning at 5 p.m. Come meet Dr. Speede and stay for dinner, followed by a slide show at 7 p.m. Laughing Planet will donate 20% of food sales to the Rescue Center the night of the event, along with the proceeds from custom designed chimp merchandise available throughout December.

"If I wasn’t peddling sustainable burritos in Oregon, I would join Sheri in Africa to help her save more chimps," said Richard Satnick, founder and Chief Burrito Officer at Laughing Planet Café. "As a graduate student in anthropology, I lived with these amazing animals and studied their behavior and communication. Sheri’s a remarkable warrior for these animals and I am proud that Laughing Planet and the community can come together to help protect our closest relatives in the animal kingdom."

Raise a Glass. Save a Chimp.
It’s as easy as sipping a pint of Fearless Brewing Company’s limited edition Baati Brown Ale at any Laughing Planet Café in Portland and Eugene during the month of December. Brewed exclusively for the chimpanzee benefit, Baati Brown Ale is named for one of the chimps housed at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in West Africa. Laughing Planet Café will donate 100% of net proceeds from sales of Baati Brown Ale. When the beer is purchased in a pint beer glass, custom designed with a chimp logo, Laughing Planet will discount the beer price. Pint glasses, t-shirts, calendars and ceramic mugs with Baati’s image will also be available for purchase throughout December at all locations.

Chimps Smile for the Camera
In partnership with In Defense of Animals – Africa, which Sheri Speede founded, Laughing Planet Café produced a 2010 calendar illustrated with black and white close-up photographs of a dozen chimps rescued by Dr. Speede and her team. The calendar is available for purchase throughout December at each Laughing Planet Café with all proceeds going directly to the Rescue Center.

About IDA- Africa www.ida-africa.org
In Defense of Animals-Africa is both a project of In Defense of Animals and a non-profit organization operating in the Republic of Cameroon in direct collaboration with the Cameroon government’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. Their vision is to keep chimpanzees and gorillas safe and thriving in their natural habitats. They also serve to provide sanctuary for chimpanzee orphans in Cameroon, and to promote the social and cultural conditions which ensure endangered great apes survive and thrive in their natural habitats. Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center provides sanctuary in forested habitat for 64 chimpanzees orphaned by the illegal bushmeat trade.

About Laughing Planet Café www.laughingplanetcafe.com

Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs is dedicated to enhancing the local vitality and economic development of Clackamas County through the promotion of inbound tourism.  CCTCA is funded by transient room taxes from area lodging facilities and campgrounds.  Visit http://www.mthoodterritory.com for details.