Mena, Arkansas - Saturday, January 16, 2010 - The grand prize African Safari for two was won by Wayne Sluder, of Roland, Arkansas!

Rich Mountain Community College was the location for the sweepstakes drawing held in conjunction with an afternoon fundraiser benefiting the Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center. The non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center was founded by Tommy Young. RMCC TV televised the afternoon activities live on cable channel 19.

Approximately 150 attended the benefit and drawing. Seven licensed falconers and their trained birds of prey, Lee Standing Bear, historian and spiritual advisor of the Manakata Indian Council and other council representatives, Lynn Culver, executive director of the Feline Conservation Federation, and Kurt Beckelman, the federation’s treasurer, were among those in attendance.

Ms. Culver says, “I was amazed when I read the name on the entry form that Standing Bear drew. Not only was the winner an FCF member, he was also a friend and resident of Arkansas, and he and his wife Rhonda, and child Phoebe, were in the audience!”

Ms. Culver says that approximately 1000 entries were held in the wheel cage Standing Bear spun, mixing the tickets, before drawing a single entry. The Sweepstakes was launched in April 2009. Entries included those from FCF members and supporters of feline conservation from thirty states.

Wayne Sluder had donated forty dollars to the FCF and four Sweepstakes had been entered in his name.  Mr. Sluder says, “Driving to the event that afternoon, my wife Rhonda and I had discussed the possibility of winning, but mostly, we just wanted to support the FCF.”

The sweepstakes winner will have one year to use their prize which covers the cost for the winner and a guest to fly from the United States to South Africa and spend a week at their choice of one of three difference Zulu Nyala Safari lodges.

Donations raised in this sweepstakes will be used to fund the operational expenses of the FCF, an international non-profit organization with a mission to preserve, protect and propagate all species of exotic felines.