Klassic Koalas Author and Publisher Mark First Milestone in Fundraising

San Mateo, Calif. – July 23, 2007 – Joanne Ehrich, the founder of Koala Jo Publishing, and Lee Barwood, award-winning author of Klassic Koalas: Ancient Aboriginal Tales in New Retellings, have marked their first milestone in fundraising for the Australian Wildlife Hospital.

Koala Jo Publishing has had two main goals: first, to raise awareness of the plight of the koala, which though not declared endangered, is under threat from habitat loss, disease, and human incursions; and second, to raise money for the Australian Wildlife Hospital, which was founded in memory of the late Steve Irwin’s mother Lyn and is a major project of Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.

While both goals are open-ended, the latter has reached its first milestone, as publisher Ehrich is able to contribute the amount of 1,624.99 dollars to the Hospital as of July 23rd. Koala Jo’s two fundraising releases, Koalas: Zen in Fur and Klassic Koalas: Ancient Aboriginal Tales in New Retellings, have only been out since May and June, and in that short time they have raised a sizeable amount for the work of the Australian Wildlife Hospital.

“This is just the beginning,” said Barwood. “We’ve been working hard to plan events in multiple states to raise awareness and to bring in funds – particularly for the Hospital’s expansion – and there’s a lot more to come.”

The fundraising drive is just warming up, with new events already planned in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and New York in addition to the author’s native New Jersey. With a teddy bear show, booksignings, and a walkathon by the Jersey Shore on the agenda, both women are looking forward to a growing campaign to help the Australian Wildlife Hospital in its quest to expand and help the furred, feathered, and scaled patients brought through its doors every day.



Availability
Order Information: Koalas: Zen in Fur, by Joanne Ehrich; 978-0-9764698-5-8; softcover, 96 Pages; 320 Photographs; Category: Photography/ Nature & Wildlife; June 01, 2007; On sale for $26.59 USD; Klassic Koalas: Ancient Aboriginal Tales in New Retellings, by Lee Barwood; ISBN: 978-0-9764698-1-0; softcover, 64 Pages; 21 illustrations; Category: Juvenile Fiction/Animals/Myths & Legends; May 01, 2007; On sale for: $20.29 USD. For more information, please visit www.koalajo.com/.


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