Houston SPCA's Animals' Best Friends Gala Raises Over $600K

From the Houston SPCA: Animal lovers, equine enthusiasts, and even avian admirers put their paws up at the Animals' Best Friends Gala – The Cat Hatter’s Ball on Friday, April 7 and raised over $600,000 to help the Houston SPCA give orphaned, abused and neglected animals a second chance at life. This lifesaving event was chaired by Jennifer and Joe Van Matre and honored four of the Houston SPCA’s Best Girl Friends Zane Carruth, Annie Graham, Evelyn H. Griffin and in memoriam, Terry Hershey. The evening’s emcee was Ilona Carson from ABC13.

Nearly 400 people crowded the ballroom at The Houstonian to purchase items at the “Mission Marketplace” and bid on silent auction items like an autographed Willie Nelson guitar, a Belize vacation, a ride-a-long with a Precinct 1 Deputy Constable and more. Guests also participated in an enthusiastic live auction featuring lunch with J.J. Watt, a Big Sky Montana vacation, a luxurious Cabo San Lucas villa and the chance to release a rescued owl right in your own backyard! The bidding culminated with Paws Up! which allowed guests to raise a paw-shaped paddle in support of the Houston SPCA’s purchase of a new Emergency Response Unit that will be utilized to save animals from disasters and rescue them from large-scale cruelty investigations.

Houston SPCA President Patricia Mercer also took a moment during the evening’s program to recognize Jim Godwin a former Board Member for his decade of service to the organization. She thanked him for his leadership, kindness, generosity and unwavering support of the Houston SPCA’s lifesaving mission over the years.

The Houston SPCA would like to thank our premiere underwriters at the “Queen of Hearts” level of sponsorship Suzy & Jim Godwin, Annie & Bob Graham, Evelyn H. Griffin, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Merial, and Doug Pitcock. We are also grateful for all our other underwriters and supporters for making the evening a resounding success!

Image via the Houston SPCA: The event was photographed by Michelle Watson, CatchLight Group.