Cause for Paws Event Recap
This year’s Annual Cause for Paws Gala was one of our most successful fundraisers in UPAWS History! We weren’t sure how we could surpass last year’s fundraising goal, but with the help of our amazing community we did it! 240 people attended the sold-out event held on Saturday, November 10th at the Holiday Inn Marquette. Attendees celebrated the bond between people and their pets with a fun night out including live music by Shag Lake Drive, delicious hors d’ouevres by Shannon’s Home Cooking, and drink specials served by the amazing Holiday Inn Staff. So amazing in fact, the Holiday Inn donated the proceeds from the beer and wine sales right back to UPAWS!! The theme of the night was “pet themed” and guests wore cat ears, bunny ears, cat mom shirts, and even dressed up just like dogs! There was a special giveaway for those that dressed in theme—a Human DNA Kit and a Canine DNA Kit! We captured the night with keepsake photos on the red carpet by our Maine Coon Sponsor Superior Design. Our volunteer live auctioneer, Paul Bonetti, auctioned off many exciting items including Cognition Brewery’s “Name a Beer After Your Pet,” UPAWS Mascot for a Year, Downtown EyeCare’s “Date Night for a Year,” Beth Millner’s Custom Engraved “Trail Home Pendant,” Iron Bay’s “Peace Pies for a Year,” and more! There were SO many wonderful raffle and fantastic silent auction prizes donated for this event, and a room filled with excited winners! I think we even hit a record for donated prizes this year!
At the completion of the event Joan Mulder, UPAWS Board Treasurer and New Shelter Construction Liaison, helped give an update on our new shelter progress and introduce our Contractor Bromley Hall. Bromley announced that Hall Contracting would be donating $20,000 to the construction of the new animal shelter, and further explaining it has been one of his favorite projects to work on. After an already successful night raising funds for the direct care of our animals, it was particularly heartwarming to receive such an amazing gift towards UPAWS future and helping make our dream of a new home—a reality. Joan said it best that it has been a blessing to work with Hall Contracting throughout every phase of the new shelter project.
This announcement was the icing on the cake of a very successful and fun night for UPAWS. Not only did the animals in our care benefit from the community’s generosity, but the additional surprise donation to the campaign for a new shelter helps ensure that animals will benefit from our care for many, many years to come in our new home. It was a very emotional and exciting announcement for all! We’re almost to our new home, and we cannot wait to share it with such an amazing, supportive community.
The community support we received for this event was phenomenal. Local Businesses and Individuals coming together for the same cause. Thank you to each person who donated, volunteered, helped advertise, and attended Cause for Paws 2018. Together, we raised over $33,000.00!!! The money raised from this event, will go straight to work in helping our animals find loving forever homes. Our efforts are not possible without people who donate and volunteer—like all of you! I am continually in awe at the generosity from our community. I hope each business and individual that contributed to Cause for Paws 2018’s success knows how very grateful we are for each and every one of you. Your generosity and support never goes unnoticed. As I stated at Cause for Paws 2016, 2017, and again this year—it takes a village. Thank you for being part of our village! YOU make a difference!
Thank you,
Amber Talo, Cause for Paws Chair
Thank you to all who donated:
906 Sports Bar & Grill, A&C Designs, Kelly Adams, Laura Aldridge, American Name Plate, Karen Anderson, Anytime Fitness of Harvey, Aubree’s, Shirley Barnett, Be “You” tiful Salon-Teal Rintala, Beth Millner Jewelry, Big Boy, Boogren MiTech, Ann & Garrett Brownell, Buck’s Restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, Burger Bus, Café Bodega, Casa Calabria, Checker Transport, Max Christensen, Classic Auto, Cognition Brewery, Congress Pizzas, Delft Bistro, Detroit Red Wings, Dia de los Tacos, Domino’s Pizza, Donckers, Double Trouble DJs, Downtown EyeCare, Dr. Karen Duquette, Edge of Reality, Escape Marquette, Forest Roberts Theatre, Forsberg Flowers, Amanda Fruehling, Getz’s, Andi Goriesky, Addie Goymerac, Green 3 Apparel, Green Bay Packers, Angela Hartman, Beth Heikkinen, Sally Hill, Holiday Travel, Terri Holly, Honor Credit Union, Kyle Hulkonen, Invisible Fence, Iron Bay/Peace Pies, Irontown Pasties, Jackson’s Pit, Diane Jandron, Jasmine Restaurant, Jean Kay’s Pasties & Subs, Jerzi’s 41 Club, Joe’s Cakes, Gabi Kautz, Marie Keto, Kurgo, Reva Laituri, Vanessa Lakanen Crafty Butterfly, Lagniappe, Michelle & Jim Larsen, Kathy & Tom Leone, Loy Lawns by Design, Lupine Pet, Ashley Maddock, Main Street Pizza, Mama Mia’s, Mares-Z-Doats, Jessica Marin-Fresh Coast Beauty, The Marq, Marquette Adventures, Marquette Breakfast Rotary Club, Marquette Power Sports, MI Internet Company, Minnesota Vikings, Emily Nault, Angie Ness, Lisa Niemisto, NMU Hockey, Northern Veterinary Associates, Johanna Novak, Marlene & Phil Ombrello, Oriential Trading, Meme & Paul Paquette, Linda Paull, PetSafe Brand, Jane Phillips, The Portside Inn, Ryan Poupore, Quality Car Care, Queen City Running, Red Lobster, Detroit Red Wings, Karen & Joe Rhodes, Rippling River Resort, Saddleback Photography, Sarah Schwenke, Barb Savolainen, Sayklly’s, Select Realty, Senors Food Truck, Smokehouse Glenn, Sol Azteca, Spa-Diction Massage by Jaylyn, Elizabeth Ann Stack, Suzanne Stephenson, Super One Foods Marquette, Swick’s, TacoMo Dog Training, Tadych’s Econo Foods, Ivan & Amber Talo, Target, Teriyaki Bowl, Thai House, Thill’s Fish House, Thomas Theatre Group, Tino’s Bar & Pizza, Anna Tomacari, Mark and Christine Troudt, U.P. Detailing, UPPCO Employees, Venice Pub & Pizzeria, The Vierling Restaurant, Steven Wiig (Waiting for Wiig), Dr. Jon Webb, Chris & Lisa Wetton, Whipped, White’s Party Store, Whitney’s Famous Bloody Mary Mix, Willey’s Tire Shop, Lisa Wojciechowski, The Wooden Nickel, and Aaron Yunker.
A thanks to…The Holiday Inn, Elder Agency, Globe Printing, Shag Lake Drive, and Shannon’s Home Cooking.
A special thanks to our volunteers:
Karen Rhodes, Rene & Jim Kinnunen, Ashley Kinnunen, Elder Agency (Shelly Malay, Lauren Ogle, Julie Cygan), Leah Dompierre, Jes and Trevor Morrison, Paul Bonetti, Ivan Talo, Gabi Kautz, Cody Wetton, Lisa & Chris Wetton, Angela & Dave Hartman, Ann Brownell, Colleen Whitehead, Lynn Andronis, Reva Laituri, Mark & Christine Troudt
A huge THANK YOU to UPAWS 2018 Platinum Sponsors! Sponsoring our major fundraising events two years running with a Platinum Sponsorship! Iron Range Agency, Honor Credit Union, and Mares Z Doats (who also was so kind to sell Cause for Paws tickets for us!) Thank you so much for your ongoing support!!
Another HUGE Thank You to our 2018 Cause for Paws Sponsors for helping make Cause for Paws a success for the animals in UPAWS Care! Thank you to Our Golden Retriver Top Sponsors: Border Grill, Hall Contracting, Invisible Fence, Karki Drywall, MBank, MI Internet, TacoMo Dog Training and TV5/Fox UP. Thank you to our Maine Coon Sponsors: Anytime Fitness of Harvey, Knots & Kisses, Servpro of The Upper Peninsula, Superior Design, and UPPCO. Thank you to our Little Critter Sponsor: Swick’s!
Check out some of the fantastic red carpet photos taken by Superior Design of attendees below!
