Rare Herd Of Elephants Set To Conquer The Southern California Coast

DANA POINT, Calif., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Coming September 2013, The Resorts of Dana Point will showcase dozens of colorfully decorated life-size elephant sculptures as Elephant Parade® makes its much-anticipated domestic debut after stops in London, Singapore, Milan and Amsterdam. The open-air exhibition connects acclaimed artists and celebrities with corporate and community leaders to attract public awareness and support for the world's most majestic land mammals.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130516/LA14971)

"Dana Point is delighted to be selected as the first American city to showcase Elephant Parade," said Johnny So, General Manager of the St. Regis, Monarch Beach. "The vibrant festival represents an unexpected, imaginative side of conservation and humanitarianism that is very much evident throughout our coastal community."

The artistic spectacle of culture and creativity boasts a long list of top-tier artists and supporters including Tommy Hilfiger, Katy Perry, Leona Lewis, Isaac Mizrahi, Goldie Hawn, Diane von Furstenberg and many more.  

"Internationally, past support has been tremendous and Dana Point provides a picture-perfect location for this powerful cause to launch in the US," said Bruce Brainerd, General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. "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."

Elephant Parade was founded in 2006 by father and son team, Marc and Mike Spits. While on holiday in Thailand, Marc was introduced to a baby elephant named Mosha, who became the world's first elephant to be fitted with a prosthetic limb after stepping on a landmine.  

"We've created a social enterprise built on a successful model of art, business and charity resulting in very tangible, timely preservation efforts," commented Mike Spits, co-founder of Elephant Parade. "If we don't take action now, the Asian Elephant could become extinct in just a few short decades."

To date, Elephant Parade has raised more than $5 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 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         

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. Renowned as the whale-watching capital of the world, Dana Point features an abundant marine life and a legendary harbor that opens to an ocean of possibilities.

About Elephant Parade
Elephant Parade® is the world's largest open-air exhibition of life-sized, decorated elephant statues created 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 

SOURCE The Resorts of Dana Point