The Fur Ball is a wonderful occasion every year, but the Fur Ball that occurred this past Friday was a truly special and glittering one. We are very proud of the fact that the readers of Richmond Magazine have voted our Fur Ball the best event in Richmond and we want to be sure that it continues to be enthusiastically attended and supported. So, we work hard to be sure that we keep the parts that have become beloved traditions and always add new touches that make for some fun surprises. This year, the additions were especially delightful.
First, while the guests were having cocktails in the gorgeous Rotunda of the Jefferson, they were caught by surprise when a flash mob broke out! The staff of the Richmond SPCA, and a couple of our Board members too, started dancing to a great Hall and Oates song at the foot of the staircase. The shock and delight on the guests’ faces was really fun to see and we all had a wonderful time letting them know that “You Make My Dreams Come True”! The flash mob was followed by our biggest and most adorable pet parade ever down the impressive Jefferson staircase.
When we were in the Ballroom before dinner, there was a speech by our Honorary Chair Tom Farrell, the President, Chairman and CEO of Dominion, that was both witty and also deeply inspiring. His wonderful words about the national prominence and impact of our organization were greatly appreciated. The remarkable piece de resistance of the delicious dinner that followed was a dessert composed of a treat jar made of edible chocolate filled with delicious chocolate truffles and capped with a chocolate lid. What a work of art by Jefferson pastry chef Sara Ayyash.
After dessert, Linda Hobgood spoke to the group about her and her husband Jim’s beloved dog Lily whom they adopted from us after she was treated for a huge assortment of injuries and ailments she sustained as a stray. Lily was the perfect example of the crucial things we accomplish for homeless animals with the money that the Fur Ball provides to our Cinderella Fund each year. Linda spoke movingly about all the joy that Lily has brought to their lives and the wonderful life she now has which could never have occurred without the support provided at last year’s Fur Ball.
Following Linda’s beautifully chosen words, the group got to see the video that was made by our remarkable director of communications Tabitha Hanes and Eric Stegleder about the extraordinary things that this organization accomplishes for animals and for people each year. It is a delight to watch and provides great insight about the Richmond SPCA. You can watch it right now even if you did not attend the Fur Ball (or if you did and just would like to see it another time) by going to our home page (www.richmondspca.org). After huge applause for the video subsided, Mark Mottley and Greg McQuade led us through one of the most successful and delightful live auctions that we have ever had at a Fur Ball.
Fur Ball 2012 was a great occasion for about 425 people and 45 pets in attendance. We have the remarkable Pat Manning, our superb Fur Ball Chair, and the amazing committee who works with her to thank for it all. The bottom line financially is that we raised $479,000 which will be used to give life saving veterinary care and loving rehabilitation to thousands more pets just like precious Lily Hobgood in the coming year. The bottom line for the guests who attended is that they had delightful surprises, a delicious dinner with fantastic wine, an evening that will provide lasting wonderful memories and the best part of all: their generosity will save the lives of thousands of wonderful animals who depend on the Richmond SPCA when they have no one else to look to. And we will be there for them.
Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
I would like to say what an honor it was to be a volunteer pet sitter at the Fur Ball. Being a part of such a wonderful function was heartwarming.
PS - the Doggie Kisses weren't bad either!
Posted by: Linda Maroney | October 16, 2012 at 08:52 PM