The Zoo gets duped

GULF BREEZE - The Zoo Northwest Florida is considering legal action after a celebrity fund-raiser in the works for more than a year ended up being a hoax.

A promoter posing to be a representative and relative of Zac Efron, star of the Disney Channel's popular "High School Musical" franchise, contacted the facility last year about scheduling a fund-raiser for The Zoo, said Danyelle Lantz, The Zoo's executive director.

Plans for the Aug. 9 event fell through this week when The Zoo learned there was a problem with its contract. Follow-up phone calls to offices in New York and to agents in Los Angeles revealed that there were contracts with the celebrities who had no idea their names had been linked to a fund-raiser in Gulf Breeze.

"I really want to believe that it was not malicious, that it was more of a delusion," Lantz said.

"We never gave them any money and they never asked for any," she said of the promoter. "They were not asking for any proceeds. That's what made it more credible for us. They weren't gaining anything from it."

Lantz said The Zoo had been planning an all-day event that would have included breakfast and dinner with Efron and three of his costars from "High School Musical" and with two actors from the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" series for one ticket price. Those who attended could also get an autograph and their picture taken with the stars for a second ticket price.

Even if the fund-raiser had not sold out, Lantz said The Zoo was projecting to raise $150,000. The money would have been used to offset a shortfall in operating funds because attendance has been down about 20 percent this year because of the economy.

Lantz said The Zoo had been working with the promoter for more than a year. In that time there had been conference calls, e-mail correspondence, talks with zoo board members and the promoter. Contracts had also been signed.

The Zoo is considering suing the promoter.

"We have approached our attorney. We are evaluating what legal recourse we have and we will be pursuing that to the fullest," Lantz said.

The Zoo had scheduled a news conference Wednesday to announce plans for the fund-raiser, but canceled it Tuesday.

Actor Cody Linley, who has appeared on the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" series, and "High School Musical" performer Drew Seeley were expected to be at The Zoo for Wednesday's news conference.