ROAR To Celebrate 25 Years Of Animal Rescue At Ridgefield Gala

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue will mark its 25th anniversary with its annual fundraising gala on Sept. 13 at Silver Spring Country Club.

The event, themed “Soaring High at '25,” will celebrate the nonprofit’s work saving nearly 6,000 cats and dogs since its founding in 2000. The evening will also honor community members and partners who have supported the organization’s mission.

Joe Loonan, a former board president who co-created the Jaime Fund to cover veterinary care for animals at the shelter, will receive the 2025 ROAR Community Star Award. The clothing retailer J. McLaughlin, which has partnered with ROAR on local fundraising efforts since 2020, will receive the 2025 ROAR Business Star Award.

Organizers said the gala will feature live and silent auctions, with the silent auction open online about a week before the event. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward food, shelter, and medical care for animals under ROAR’s care.

ROAR, which opened its Donofrio Family Animal Shelter in 2005, rescues dogs and cats from multiple U.S. states as well as Puerto Rico and Honduras. The group is supported by donors, volunteers, and sponsors including Adam Broderick Salon and Spa, Blue Buffalo, and Fairfield County Bank.

More information, tickets, and online bidding registration are available at the group's website.