St. Croix residents and visitors look forward to the Fur Ball Gala each year, hosted by the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center and local businesses.
This year, the fun-filled event for a good cause will be held March 2 at the Bohlke International Airways hanger from 6 – 9 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.
The gala will include an elegant Asian-inspired menu by Umami Sushi, including beef, chicken and veggie dishes, and a fine finish by Blu Chocolate. The open bars will feature locally made beverages by Cruzan Rum, Mutiny Island Vodka and Leatherback Brewery. Cruzan Rum and Mutiny Island are planning themed drinks to add to the evening’s excitement.
Live Entertainment will be courtesy of St. Croix favorites – Mama’s Black Sheep – supporters of the animal shelter and DJ Chubby to ramp up the guest participation.
Attendees will have even more fun at the silent auction, featuring luxury items such as airline tickets and hotel stays. An art gallery will offer high-end artwork for purchase, a wall with mystery wines where guests can donate $20 and pick a bottle – worth perhaps as much as $200.
There will be games with prizes, including wheel-of-fortune, corn hole, and a photo booth with well-known professional photographer John Eastman. A display of the new shelter home in Castle Coakley will educate attendees about the future of the SCAWC.
AWC staff have been given tickets to the event and the event will be managed, for the most part, by their dedicated volunteers.
With over 200 tickets sold (last year, only 100 were sold), only last-minute general admission tickets will be available beginning Monday at $200 per ticket. Previously, tickets were $150, $500 for four, and $1000 for a full table. Tickets are available at the shelter at the Five Corners location or Eventbrite.
According to Becca Hughson, director of public relations and marketing, the Fur Ball Gala is the largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds will go toward helping the animals in their care.
“The SCAWC Fur Ball Gala is our largest fundraiser of the year, and we are depending on this fundraiser to help alleviate some of our overwhelming operating costs,” Hughson said.
She cited a couple of examples of skyrocketing costs: $900 per month to feed each animal and provide health and staff care – translating to $100,000 per month. Each Paws from Paradise cargo flight runs around $5,000, and they generally fly two flights a month, she said.
With the number of unwanted animals skyrocketing and the cost of caring for them increasing every day, the SCAWC needs more donations every month.
