Raise the Woof Update
UPAWS Annual Raise the Woof Comedy Show Friday, January 19th was filled with laughs and helping homeless pets! Supporters helped raise over $5,400 as they were entertained by comedians who put the “fun” in fundraising! This year the event was held at Red Rock Lanes and Banquet Center in Ishpeming, MI. Tickets included Comedy, Dinner, and Cocktail Service! River Rock Lanes did a fantastic job serving a delicious taco/nacho bar dinner. Knots & Kisses Events also lent their beautiful candy display dishes so guests could enjoy a candy buffet for dessert! The Comedy Show featured three comedians, Mike Brody, Casey Flesh, and Andrew Wegleitner to help us laugh our tails off!
We would like to thank everyone for starting off the New Year in good company and laughter and by supporting UPAWS. The money raised from this event goes straight towards the care of our animals and helping them find their forever homes. At the event, the tables were lined with photos of animals who have been cared for by UPAWS staff, Local Vets, Volunteers, and Fosters. Pets who with the help of our community’s donation and adopters, were able to have a happy tail of their very own. These donations make a huge difference in the lives of homeless pets in our community.
The event wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic volunteers. Thank you to Jim and Rene Kinnunen for your wonderful job doing registration. Thank you to Ashley Kinnunen and Kelsey Reyes for your phenomenal job selling 50/50 tickets. River Rock Lanes generously allowed us to bring in volunteer cocktail servers who were able to donate their tips to UPAWS, Jes Morrison and Dini Peterson did a fantastic job serving our guests all night! They really worked their tails off! Our Executive Director/Campaign Manager Kori Tossava also helped as a do-it-all volunteer! Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce Communications & Marketing Assistant Gabi Kautz joined the Chamber Executive Director Kelsey Reyes and volunteered at the event to help with clean-up as well! Clean up is always a hard job to find volunteers for, so an extra special thank you to Cody Wetton, Ivan Talo, and all of the attendees who stayed to help clean-up!
We had such a great time sharing laughs with our generous supporters at our SOLD OUT 2018 show, and would also like to thank River Rock Lanes and the talented Raise the Woof Comedians for putting on such a great show!