I’ve covered many debut fundraising-galas.
But not just because of the event name or the fact live dogs were among the guests, HollyWoof was one of the best premier galas I’ve been to.
HollyWoof, a benefit for New Beginnings Animal Rescue based in Olive Branch, Mississippi and Friends of Horn Lake Animal Shelter, was July 22nd at Theatre Memphis. Hollywood, of course, was the theme. Tables were set with little gold canine-sized Oscars.
Hollywood Feed and Theatre Memphis were two of the main sponsors.
“We’ve had auctions before, but this was our first gala,” says Rene Crider, who, along with Rachel Phillips, is a dog intake coordinator at New Beginnings. “We hope it’s an annual thing.”
The silent auction was stupendous. A total of 224 items were included, Phillips says.
Items included a $300 gift certificate to Folk’s Folly and, from Roadshow BMW, the opportunity to drive a BMW from Thursday until the following Tuesday.
Other items included spa nights, spa treatments, hair products, dog baskets, and camping equipment, Crider says.
April and Mara Nelson, cat coordinators for New Beginnings, were responsible for the mystery bags and collecting auction items.
The event also included a wine pull. “We got rid of all our wine, so that was good,” Crider says.
The dinner was fantastic. John Wheeler and his son, John Dalton Wheeler, catered the meal, which included pork loin, green beans, and the best glazed carrots I’ve ever eaten.
The excellent desserts were by Melissa Walker and Shannons Sweet Confections. Shannons did the paw print cookies.
HollyWoof also included a live auction, but there was only one item to bid on — a cake. But what a cake.
Keisha Jackson of Tasty Pastry in Cordova, Tennessee made the cake, says Deborah Sharp. “I met her on NextDoor,” Sharp says. “I live in Cordova. All the cakes are unbelievable that she does. I asked her for a donation. She donated three different sizes and costs of cakes, which was unbelievable, for the silent auction.
“Then we thought, ‘Maybe we could do a live auction with one of her cakes.’ So, I contacted her and sent her some pictures of cakes I found online, Hollywood and such.”
Sharp asked Jackson to decorate it with “Hollywood glamor and accents of dogs and cats.”
The cake, which Sharp described as “just wonderful,” was “a two-layer cake with fondant. It’s got the red carpet and Hollywood decorations.”
The cake, which included three dog figurines on top — with one on the red carpet — went for $250.
Sharp brought her two dogs — Cheddar and Nugget — to the party. “I was gone all day. I can’t leave the girls. And they’re so good.”
They were all dog tired when they got home after midnight, Sharp says. “I thought I was tired, but these girls… Socializing is tiring.”
Valerie Calhoun, who attended with her husband, John Elkington, was an emcee along with Brian Patterson. Patterson’s wife, Stacey Patterson, did the centerpieces.
HollyWoof, apparently, was a successful fundraiser. As for the exact figure, Lisa Hayes with Friends of Horn Lake Animal Shelter, says, “We’re still trying to figure that out, but it looks like it’s going to be close to $20,000.”
