On October 2, the Richmond SPCA hosted our Eleventh Annual Fur Ball, a gala that raises money for our Cinderella Fund, which is a special pool of resources that provides care to sick, injured and underage homeless pets at our center. On Friday evening, we raised more than $416,000 – a truly remarkable feat. These funds will provide care to more than 2,000 pets in need of specialized medical care during the coming year. The success of this event is due to many generous individuals and corporations, and we are overwhelmed and grateful for this outpouring of support.
Once a year, on the first Friday of October, animal lovers communitywide come together to further the mission of the Richmond SPCA to treat every life as precious. They come to pledge their part to guaranteeing a future to orphaned dogs and cats in great need. These generous individuals and companies support the event, and our pets, by purchasing tickets to the Fur Ball, by bidding on items in our silent and live auctions, by sponsoring portions of the event, by purchasing raffle tickets, and by making cash donations. All of these contributions, no matter how big or how small, are vital to our lifesaving work. One raffle ticket costs $5. This may not seem like much, but when we sell thousands of $5 raffle tickets, the impact is staggering. Our raffle raised more than $15,000 this year. This amount will provide bottle feeding for 45 infant kittens for six weeks, and cover the cost of orthopedic surgery for three dogs, and provide six months of medication for three dogs with heart murmurs.
The Richmond SPCA holds many events throughout the year. Some, like the Fur Ball, are formal dinner events, while others, like the Dog Jog & 5K Run, are family-friendly outdoor gatherings. While they may be very different in size and scope, they all share the same purpose – to save the lives of homeless animals in our community. These events not only support our programs financially, they also help us to promote our free and low-cost programs and services and to share lifesaving messages with people throughout the community.
To fully achieve a no-kill community, we all must work together. Success depends upon the cooperation, understanding and action of community members. Purchasing a ticket to one of our Canine Café events or our Progressive Dinner may seem like a small contribution, but it is one that gives life to animals who depend upon us. We look forward to seeing you at an event this fall!
Comments