Black Cat Ball Makes its Mark on Halloween Eve

Submitted by the Hinsdale Humane Society.

Hinsdale Humane Society welcomed 300 costumed Ball goers on Friday, Oct. 30 at Katherine Legge Memorial Lodge in Hinsdale, raising more than $55,000 for homeless animals.

All of the funds will go directly to the care of the animals in our shelter and the programs that support their welfare.

“It’s always our goal to share information about our innovative programming, including pet therapy, humane education and of course, animal adoption,” said Lori Halligan, Executive Director, HHS. “The compassionate attendees of Black Cat Ball all came out in impressive costumes, in support of that mission. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the event and the funds raised.”

Funds were raised through sponsorships, event ticket sales ($125 per ticket), raffle ticket sales ($20 each), a paddle raise, live auction, and 75 silent auction items.

Event Chairperson, Christie Cuthbert, was responsible for all of the details that went into the evening, and led the HHS Ambassadors in implementing the successful event.

“We worked hard over the past year to make sure guests would have an awesome Halloween Eve to remember,” said Christie Cuthbert, Black Cat Ball Chairperson. “From the looks on everyone’s costumed faces, I think we succeeded.”

As guests entered, they took part in a photo opportunity “cat” walk where guests could debut their costumes beside a stairway filled with lit jack o’lanterns carved by the Ambassadors and volunteers. A spread of Halloween-themed finger foods and cocktails, including the signature “Purple People Eater,” set the tone amidst piano-playing skeletons, cob-webbed branches and flying paper bats. Hinsdale band, Paparockzzi helped set the tone of the night, while “the black cat crew” of cat-costumed women came out to get the evening’s bidding started.

Costume contest and auction winners were announced, the silent auction closed out, and masquerading attendees worked their way back out into the night through a candlelit pathway.

Special thanks are due to all Black Cat Ball sponsors, and to Ambassadors: Christie Cuthbert, Irene Wood, Ali Rago, Kate Hunley, Molly Haunty, Katie Crotty, Mistie Lucht, Megan Hickman, Puja Gupta and Kate Szfarcyzk. Watch for the date and location of next year’s event coming soon.