Sit.Stay.Shine.Success!

The Peninsula SPCA’s sixth annual Fur Ball 2013 fundraiser held on Saturday, February 2 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, raised $166,000!  With the dedication from our contributors, sponsors and volunteers, we are thrilled to announce the Peninsula SPCA 2013 Fur Ball funds raised increased by 78 percent compared to last year’s Fur Ball and for all of our homeless animals. These monies raised will be a vital part to the transition of becoming an Adoption Guarantee Organization.

Every year at Fur Ball, the Peninsula SPCA auctions the coveted title, Fur Ball Spokes Pet for some lucky pet to represent the Peninsula SPCA’s Fur Ball. The item is an exciting opportunity to show off your pet! The winner will be featured on the Peninsula SPCA’s website and all Fur Ball promotional materials. We are excited to announce this year’s winner for Fur Ball 2014 Spokes Pet, Ellie Nellie Noodles!

Bow Wow! Ellie Nellie Noodles is a smooth-haired boarder collie, English pointer mix rescue and she is infinitely excited to be the new Fur Ball 2014 Spokes Pet!  Laura Brown, SPCA Board Member and 2013 Fur Ball Chairman, was ecstatic when her winning bid won Ellie Nellie Noodles the coveted Spokes Pet title.  “I cannot believe she won!  Ellie Nellie Noodles is the Fur Ball 2014 Spokes Pet!” Picture above features Laura Brown and Edward Fiscella with Fur Ball 2014 Spokes Pet Ellie Nellie Noodles on the red carpet during the pet parade.

For the first time, Fur Ball sold out! At this year’s event almost 400 guests and 55 pets filled the Hampton Roads Convention Center’s ballroom. New this year was an exclusive V.I.P. pre-party for our top sponsors and their guests! As always our traditional guests enjoyed cocktails, live music by Tidewater Drive Band and during dinner sweet sounds performed by The Strolling Silver Strings from Norfolk Public Schools, a joint presentation of the Music Education and Programs for the Gifted of the Norfolk Public Schools that is a specialty to the event.

Thanks to our Auctioneer G. Amory LeCuyer from Hampton House Auctions, we set a new record by raising $38,900 during the live auction. Contributors won prizes including an African Safari Trip, Bahamas vacation, a trip to historic Charleston, Churchill Downs Tickets and an exclusive American Flag Flown over Afghanistan that was given with sentimental patriotic pride.

Most important, we would not be able to execute this event without dedicated volunteers. Thanks to over 165 volunteers who helped the night of the event as well as the months leading up to Fur Ball. Our volunteers assisted with event set-up, decorations, silent auction, care for guests’ pets as pet escorts and greeters during the evening.

“This year’s Fur Ball was an important kick-off event for our transition to becoming an Adoption Guarantee Organization. in 2013. We will soon face the reality of operating the shelter without the assistance of contract revenues from our local municipalities, so we thank the generous contributions from our community for this will be vital to the transition to saving the lives of  homeless pets on the Peninsula,” states Ellen Thacker, SPCA Executive Director.

View Fur Ball 2013 Photo Gallery! 

The Peninsula SPCA thanks all of our generous sponsors!  Red Carpet Sponsors:  Ferguson and Smithfield. Waggin’ Tails Sponsors:  Judy and Henry Morris, Donna and James Thornton, and York River Electric, Inc. Fat Cat Sponsors: Laura Y. Brown and Edward G. Fiscella, VEI Homes, and W.M. Jordan Company. Muttini Bar Sponsors: Dr. and Mrs. Robert Snyder, Red Arrow Products Company, L.L.C., TowneBank. Purrfect Paw Sponsor: BayPort Credit Union, C&F Bank, Sentara CarePlex Hospital, VCA Boulevard Animal Hospital, and Virginia Health Services. Mutts & Meows Sponsors: 1^st Advantage Federal Credit Union, Bosh Global Services, The Commonwealth Company, M. Price Distributing Company, Spectrum Foundation, Todds Lane Veterinary Hospital and Lucille and Frank Wagner. Puppy Love Sponsor: James Reade Chisman, Link, Jacobs, & Link D.D.S., Jeff Reid, The Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley, Villanueva Agency LTD. Nationwide Insurance, and Whitman, Requardt, & Associates, LLP.