By Judy Carmack Bross
As Anti-Cruelty “graduates” proudly walked across the Geraghty stage at the recent 125th Anniversary Gala with owners who had given them forever homes, the 550 guests whooped with delight. With the same gusto, guests bid and pledged when auctioneer Alyssa Quinlan, CEO of Freemans/ Hindman, took the stage for the live auction and paddle raise. The evening’s results: $423,570, nearly double the Anti-Cruelty goal set for the evening.
For more about Anti-Cruelty, visit anticruelty.org |
Gala Co-Chair Lauren Wolven and Family |
Centerpiece New Logo
Anti-Cruelty Staff |
Anti-Cruelty Board President Shane Foley |
The week began with 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly unveiling the sign “Rose Fay Thomas Way” honoring Anti-Cruelty’s founder with an honorary sign on Grand Avenue, between Clark and Wells, where the building has helped so many animals and people since 1907. The name was officially changed this anniversary year to Anti-Cruelty from Anti-Cruelty Society and a new logo drew applause at the Gala.
Andy Avalos received the Voice of the Animals Award.
Longtime Anti-Cruelty advocate LeeAnn Trotter of NBC5 Chicago, known for her moving interviews about Anti-Cruelty and the pets and people changed forever for the better served as Emcee. All honorees and Trotter and Quinlan related stories of their own pets and what they mean to them. Trotter’s news partner Andy Avalos received the Voice of the Animals Award.
LeeAnn of NBC5 was Emcee
Voice of the Animals Award Andy Avalos |
Service Award Dr. Sheldon Rubin |
Rose Fay Thomas Trailblazer Award Oil Dri Dan Jaffee
Rose Fay Thomas Trailblazer Award Oil Dri Dan Jaffee
Dr, Sheldon Rubin received the Service Award, while Hill’s Pet Nutrition won the Innovator Award. Oil-Dri received the Rose Fay Thomas Trailblazer Award from Presenting Sponsor Renee Beam. Co-Chairs for the evening were Peggy Austin, President of GoldStar Communications and Lauren Wolven, Partner, Levenfeld Pearlstein.
Co-Chairs Lauren Wolven and Peggy Austin
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Renee Beam dancing |
Dance Floor |
MixTape kept people dancing into the night after the puppies and kitties went back to Anti-Cruelty after having cuddled with guests galore.
This month Anti-Cruelty unveiled new state-of-the art facilities, made possible by generous donors. Thanks to Aimee Katz, Renee Beam, Joyce Yaung and Matt Bayer, Jane and Anthony Luiso, facilities now offer enhanced comfort and care for beloved animals. These spaces, including the Katz Dog Respite Center, Renee Beam and Irene Bittner Cat Adoption Center, Bo’s Room and the Cat Connection Alcove, and the Jane and Anthony Luiso Dog Adoption Center, ensure best Care for pets, people, and the Chicagoland community.
Sarah Ames, third from left, and Gudrun Adelhelm of Heidelberg, third from right, were among those celebrating at the Gala.
Sarah Ames, longtime Anti-Cruelty volunteer and an evening sponsor told us about what being at Anti-Cruelty means to her. Yearly, volunteers put in almost 65,000 hours helping animals. She described her efforts to us:
“Volunteering at Anti Cruelty, whether as foster, adoption matchmaker, cat and dog socialization or shelter feeding or cleaning, clinic patient care, has given me a great appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the staff and the volunteers, the much needed funds to run such an operation; the need for education to spay, neuter and adopt and to support and cheer on the adopters that come in every day and open their hearts and home for the pets that need a forever home. I was thus so moved to see so many people come out on March 9 for the 125th Anniversary Gala to honor the work of Anti-Cruelty and to be so unbelievably generous and to far exceed the fundraising goal. It’s a great tribute to the organization.
“I had a wonderful time celebrating Anti-Cruelty with friends and clients, including my mother Gudrun Adelheim, who flew in from Heidelberg, Germany for the event. We all really enjoyed the evening thanks to the excellent organization that included cuddles with alumni dogs, adoptable puppies and kittens, plenty of opportunities to chat and mingle with old and new friends, excellent food and great entertainment.
Gudrun Adelheim, far right, greets one of the evening’s little guests of honor.
For more about Anti-Cruelty, visit anticruelty.org
