Concert For The Cats

America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College Partners with John Ondrasik of  Five for Fighting to Raise Money for Tiger Exhibit

For Immediate Release

Moorpark, Calif. July 29, 2021 – Moorpark College is partnering with lead singer and philanthropist John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting to host the “Concert for the Cats” benefit concert. Proceeds from the September 10 concert in the Moorpark College quad will assist in the completion of the zoo’s new Bengal tiger exhibit.

Moorpark College Music department students will open the show for Ondrasik starting at 5 p.m., with theater students providing production assistance. VIP tickets are available for $125, which includes an exclusive pre-show photo-op meet and greet with Ondrasik at 4:30 p.m., a tour of America’s Teaching Zoo with animal interactions, refreshments, and reserved seating for the concert. General seating and lawn seating will be available, with food for purchase from local food trucks.

“When Neil and Karma came to us in 2017, they were each around 50 pounds. Now, Neil weighs 375 pounds, and Karma weighs 275 pounds. They need a larger enclosure, and the community can have a part in it by coming to the concert,” said Zoo Development Coordinator, Mara Rodriguez. “Concertgoers will be bringing this project to the finish line. The new exhibit will include two sections for Neil and Karma with a connecting bridge zoo visitors can walk under.”

Neil was rescued as a four-month-old cub from a private residence in the Hollywood Hills after being spotted in a popular YouTuber’s video. The cub was sent to Moorpark College’s zoo to live and rehabilitate with Karma, another tiger donated by another zoo, to serve as his companion.

John and Carla Ondrasik have hosted multiple charity concerts in the community and proposed the benefit concert. John grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and their son attends Moorpark College. Both are regular patrons of the zoo.

“Our family spends many Saturdays visiting Ira the lion and saying hello to his other animal friends and the amazing students and faculty. I can’t be more excited to support the wonderful Moorpark zoo,” said John Ondrasik. “I look forward to raising some needed funds for the zoo with songs and stories, and listening to fantastic Moorpark College singer-songwriting students!”

General admission tickets with seating provided are $65, and lawn seating is $55, with attendees welcomed to bring blankets or low beach chairs for the lawn.  Handicap seating will be available. Alumni will be emailed a discount code for seat tickets for $50, and tickets for students with campus ID and children (15 and under) are $25. Tickets can be purchased through the America’s Teaching Zoo ticket office website.

About Moorpark College

Moorpark College is one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District and annually serves more than 14,000 students. Founded in 1967, Moorpark College is fully accredited and has the highest six-year completion rate within the California Community College System. The Campaign for College Opportunity named Moorpark College a 2019 Champion of Higher Education for the Associate Degree for Transfer Pathway. It is also a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. The college’s signature career/technical programs include nursing, radiologic technology, biotechnology and journalism. The college’s America’s Teaching Zoo is the only associate degree exotic animal training program in the country. To learn more, visit MoorparkCollege.edu or follow @MoorparkCollege on social media.

Contact: Mara Rodriguez
805-378-1441 

mararodriguez@vcccd.edu