Lively dance, nurturing dreams, rooting for Goodall

June 11, 2005
Salt Lake Tribune

Taking root at Westminster

Internationally acclaimed primatologist Jane Goodall planted Roots & Shoots in Salt Lake City as Westminster College became the fifth U.S. center for the education outreach program founded by Goodall.

Best known for her work with chimpanzees, Goodall now travels approximately 300 days a year to promote conservation. Celebrating the new Intermountain West Regional office, 75 of Westminster's best friends met for a reception in the Norman and Barbara Tanner Atrium at the Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory, followed by dinner in the Dumke Student Theatre.

Westminster set designer Bryan Jacobs created a dramatic African enclave in the black-box theater, and diners entered to drums and voices of Sudanese musicians Kakawa Union.

Goodall's words, "Small acts of compassion and caring are meaningful and hope is contagious," drew applause and added dollars toward a $400,000 goal to fund three years of Roots & Shoots.

Westminster President Michael Bassis and Mary Bassis welcomed guests including Utah Director of the Division of Indian Affairs Forrest Cuch and Carla Cuch, Barbara and Norman Tanner, the Rev. France Davis, Sonja and Errol ErrNisse, Stewart and DeAnne Hanson, Joyce and Verl Topham, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and Blaise Labriola, Lon Watson and Paula Swaner, Paula Swaner Sargetakis and Joe Sargetakis, Alice and Kevin Steiner, Doug and Shelly Anderson and Melissa Johnson.