Cause for Paws Update
Our 2016 Cause for Paws Gala Fundraiser was a resounding success! This year’s event was the most successful Cause for Paws in UPAWS history! 216 people attended the sold-out event held on October 21st at the U.P. Masonic Building. We were thrilled to team up with another local non-profit, The U.P. Masonic Building, to provide a cozy venue for our event! UPAWS supporters celebrated the bond between people and their pets with a fun night out including live music by Iron Daisy, hors d’oeuvres by Just Right Catering, cupcakes by Blackburn’s Cupcakes & More, and TONS of prizes! The room was filled with donated raffle packages, silent auction items, live auction items, and fantastic door prizes. UPAWS friends also captured the night with keepsake photos on the red carpet taken by Tonia.Lee Photography. Thank you Superior Designs for the incredible red carpet back drop and event banners, they really added a special touch to the night. This year’s Gala also included a few new attractions; a live auction by volunteer Paul Bonetti AND a beer & wine tasting with expertise & help from Bayside Beverage! Live Auction paddles were created by Lakeview Elementary School 3rd and 4th graders, with donated supplies from Sherwin Williams. Auction paddles were flying high at the chance to win a beer named after your pet at Cognition Brewing Co. In fact, this item raised $3000.00!! UPAWS friends also enjoyed specialty cocktails “The Regal Beagle” and “The Cat’s Meow” at the Cash bar, with donated soda from Coca-Cola. Thank you to Kohl’s Volunteer Program for offering us five Kohl’s Associates as volunteers and a $1500.00 Grant to help make our event as successful as possible! Thrivent Action Team also donated to help us get supplies to decorate the Masonic Building with paw prints and pet photos galore! A BIG “Thank You” to all who sponsored, donated, volunteered, and/or attended Cause for Paws 2016. Together, we raised over $22,000.00 to help the animals in our care. 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! Thank you for helping make this Fundraiser the most successful Cause for Paws in our history!
UPAWS Executive Director, Kori Tossava, also made an exciting announcement at Cause for Paws. UPAWS announced the public kick-off for Imagine the PAWSibilities: Campaign for an Animal Community Center. The announcement included a challenge to the community with a $100,000 match gift from Mark and Chris Troudt through their donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Marquette County. From October 22 through December 31 every dollar given to the Campaign for an Animal Community Center will be matched. To find out more about this announcement and how you can accept the challenge with a donation visit www.upaws.org or call (906) 457-6661 today!
To view your Cause for Paws Gala red carpet photos, visit www.tonialeephotography.smugmug.com ! Fabulous event photos by KSEA Photo will be uploaded soon—so stay tuned & check back!
Thank you to all who donated!
5 Guys Construction, Ace Hardware, Laura Aldridge, The Andronis Family, Anytime Fitness of Harvey, Big Boy, Blackrocks Brewery, Blimpie’s Subs, Brogie’s Tavern, Ann Brownell, Buck’s Restaurant, Buck’s Sub Shop, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cindi Carlson, Kerry Cebulski, Cedarhurst Lodge, Century 21, Adina Christian, Cognition Brewing Co., Congress Pizzas, Kathleen Conover, Dan Cook, The Cookie Jar, Cruise N’ Coffee, Dancing With the Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Dia de los Tacos, Domino’s Pizza, Donckers, Down Wind Sports, Driven Sound & Security, Elizabeth’s Chophouse, Everyday Wines, Family Video, Brooke Ferns, Flowerworks, Forsberg & A New Leaf, Amanda Fruehling, Getz’s, Green 3 Apparel, The Hampton Inn, Angela Hartman, Troy & Nicole Heikkinen, Holiday Inn, Holiday Stationstores, Honor Credit Union, Irontown Pasties, Jackson’s Pit, Jerzi’s 41 Club, Jet’s Pizza, Joe’s Cakes, JRJ Food Equipment, Ashley Kivisto, KSEA Photo, Lagniappe, Lake Superior Pizza & Sub, Larry’s Foods, Reva Laituri, Loop Salon-Ashley Baker, Loy Lawns by Design, Lutey’s, Main St. Pizza, Magnolia Mill Farms, Marquette Automotive, Marquette Baking Co., Marquette Food Co-Op, Marquette Meats, Mares-Z-Doats, Mathews Floor Fashions, MiFab360, Midway Rentals & Sales, Negaunee Cable Co., Nestledown Bed & Breakfast, Kim Niemi, Lisa Niemisto, NMU Hockey, Northern Veterinary Associates, Marlene & Phil Ombrello, Ore Dock Brewery, Papa Murphy’s, Meme & Paul Paquette, Tina Prusi, Quality Car Care, Ralph’s Italian Deli, Richardson’s Jewelry, Rollin’ Smoke, Senors Food Truck, Shopko, Sisters Hair Co., Smokehouse Glenn, Spa-Diction-Massage by Jaylyn, Spice Merchants, Pamela Smith-Spittler, Starbucks, Steinhaus, Superior Entertainment Center, Superior Mobile Koney, Superior Outiftters, Superior Salon Systems, TacoMo Dog Training, Mike Talo, Thill’s Fish House, Thomas Theatre Group, Tino’s Bar & Pizza, Toarmina’s Pizza, Anna Tomacari, Tulivesi Yoga, University of Michigan, UpNorth Lodge, The Venice Pub & Pizzeria, Amber Wetton, Lisa & Chris Wetton, White’s Party Store, Whitney’s Famous Bloody Mary Mix, Wild Blue BBQ, Jim & Jackie Winkoski, Woodworks Chainsaw Carving, Yooper Shirts, and Young’s Tire.
And thanks to…
Blackburn’s Cupcakes & More, Coca-Cola, Ever Yielding Acres, Iron Daisy, Just Right Catering, Kohl’s, Lakeview Elementary School, U.P. Masonic Building, Thrivent, Sherwin Williams, Tona.Lee Photography, KSEA Photography, and Superior Designs.
