Kathy Shayna Shocket has the inside scoop on celebrities and people who make a difference.
Behind the scenes of how Barrett-Jackson helped drive passion and dollars for Siegfried and Roy's new mission.
Back stage at Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay, as Siegfried and Roy were getting ready to make a surprise appearance before the audience at Barrett-Jackson, its Chairman/CEO Craig Jackson asked the crowd to welcome two very special guests. “Ten years ago these two gentlemen left the stage as entertainers and tonight we are honored to celebrate their return to the world stage with the launch of their SARMOTI Foundation.” It was an emotionally charged moment as Roy insisted that he would walk onto the stage.
Now on the ten year anniversary of what Siegfried and Roy refer to as “when the thing happened”, they have a new mission; the SARMOTI (Siegfried and Roy Masters of the Impossible) Foundation. The SARMOTI Foundation is dedicated to protect, conserve and preserve endangered and threatened animals globally, with particular focus on the big cats. The foundation also supports the Las Vegas Metro Police K-9 unit and military dogs.
As the world-famous pair took to the stage at Barrett-Jackson, and Craig Jackson, (flanked by Barrett-Jackson President, Steve Davis) presented his donation of $10,000, there were rounds of passionate, thunderous applause. It would be the first ten of the $95,000 that would be raised that evening for the duo’s foundation. Among those who made donations were Bryan Singer of X-Men fame, Rick Hendrick of Hendricks Motorsport, Mike Helton, President of Nascar, Don William of the Blackhawk Museum, philanthropist Brett Torino and long-time Barrett-Jackson customers Greg Mauzy and Robert Tyler.
(Siegfried, Carolyn Mullany-Jackson, Craig Jackson and Zar Zanganeh)
Barrett-Jackson has a long history of supporting local charities and wanted to support the works that the SARMOTI Foundation does with the L.V.M.P.D K-9 units. Pictured above, during the video and photo shoot on the compound of S & R’s Las Vegas home are Siegfried, Carolyn Mullany-Jackson, Craig Jackson and Zar Zanganeh.
(Siegfried and Roy)
The stunning red beauty also pictured above is a rare 1925 Rolls Royce Maharaja's tiger hunting car. Carolyn Mullany-Jackson was the “driving force” of the photo and video shoot and came up with its theme, “The Hunter Becomes the Hunted”. The cheetah helps complete the classic picture.
“It was an absolute honor to have had Siegfried and Roy grace the auction block at Barrett-Jackson. While Siegfried and Roy amazed the world for decades on the stage I feel with the launch of their SARMOTI Foundation that their greatest achievements still lie ahead of them,” says Craig Jackson Chairman/CEO.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer, Photographer and TV- Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. She's a former TV Reporter who's written for publications such as TIME Magazine, Money Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. You can reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
