Wells Fargo Private Bank Named Grand Patron of Elephant Parade: Welcome to America

DANA POINT, Calif. (August 19, 2013) – The Resorts of Dana Point are proud to announce Wells Fargo Private Bank as Grand Patron of Elephant Parade: Welcome to America. As the first American financial institution to substantially support the campaign for conservation, Wells Fargo confirmed its sponsorship funding and will play a significant role in helping to save the Asian elephant species from extinction.

“We’re pleased to be able to support the endeavors of Elephant Parade: Welcome to America!” said Chris Rommel, regional managing director for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Orange County. “At Wells Fargo, we believe those of us who can, should lead positive environmental change and we embrace that responsibility. That’s why as we do business we try to protect natural resources and the environment. We’re finding new ways to minimize our energy consumption, reduce waste, and support renewable sources of energy, while building stronger communities.”

Richard Saul Wurman, founder and creator of TED conferences, has been commissioned to design and create an exclusive Wells Fargo Elephant statue. As an architect and graphic designer who coined the phrase 'Information Architecture,' Wurman is considered a pioneer in the practice of making information easily understandable.  Through his TED conferences and 83 published books, Wurman has made it his life’s goal to ignite change and create dialogue around the world’s most important issues. 

Both Wells Fargo and Wurman bring worldwide connectivity to the Elephant Parade — a grassroots movement turned global campaign making its American debut in Orange County, California, after stops in London, Milan, Amsterdam and Singapore. Presenting sponsors The Resorts of Dana Point will host the open-air art exhibition from August 23 - November 17, 2013, where dozens of colorfully decorated life-sized baby elephant sculptures will be on display, including Wurman’s custom creation.  

“We are extremely grateful for this partnership and generous contribution of Wells Fargo supporting our global cause,” said Mike Spits, co-founder of Elephant Parade. “The Elephant Parade is so special and its message is extremely important. We are thrilled to be working with a powerful organization so passionate about our conservation efforts and making a real difference in the world.”

Proceeds from Elephant Parade full-size exposition statue sales and an additional 20% of the Elephant Parade net profits are donated to The Asian Elephant Foundation, which financially supports and actively monitors projects for the welfare of the Asian elephant.

To date, Elephant Parade has raised more than $6 million for Asian elephant conservation and approximately 8 million people worldwide have experienced the expositions.

More information

For more information, please visit www.mydanapoint.com/elephants and www.elephantparade.com

Like Dana Point on Facebook at www.facebook.com/myDanaPoint

Find additional pictures, videos and stories from past parades at http://www.mynewsdesk.com/pressroom/elephant-parade

Press Contacts

Mandev Khalsa, BLAZE PR at (310) 395-5050, mkhalsa@blazepr.com 
Chelsea Hartnett, BLAZE PR at (310) 395-5050, chartnett@blazepr.com 

General international enquiries on Elephant Parade: Harriet Powell, elephant communications (+44) 7738 160961

About Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.4 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, and the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support the bank’s customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States.  Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2013 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at blog.wellsfargo.com.

About Dana Point, Southern California

Conveniently located in south Orange County, halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles, Dana Point boasts a breathtaking collection of resort properties with an approachable elegance unique to the Southern California shoreline. Dana Point’s dramatic beauty is complemented by a distinct variety of year-round signature events, as well as boundless ocean experiences along its golden coast. As an oceanfront destination dedicated to the preservation of our planet, Dana Point thinks beyond the boundaries of land and sea to raise awareness for the crusade of conservation across the globe.

About The Asian Elephant Foundation

The Asian Elephant Foundation supports various projects and organizations throughout Asia, varying from (mobile) elephant hospitals to developing solutions for human-elephant conflicts, and thus supporting the well-being and the conservation of the Asian elephant. 

About Elephant Parade

Elephant Parade® is the world’s largest open-air exhibition of life-sized elephant statues decorated by local and international artists to generate worldwide attention, public awareness and support for the endangered Asian elephant.

©Copyrights Elephant Parade International B.V. 2013