Volunteers, staff and friends of the animals came out in full force Friday evening to support the Cayman Islands Humane Society’s 17th annual Fundraiser Dinner and Auction.
The gala event drew a capacity crowd of 300 to the Marriott Beach Resort for an evening of fun and fundraising that brought in an estimated $80,000.
‘It was a fantastic evening,’ said Giuseppe Gatta, President of the Humane Society. ‘The generosity was incredible.’
Most of the items on the block in the silent auction sold above their value, while the entertaining live auction revved up friendly competition among bidders.
The item bringing in the highest bid – $5,000 – was a five-night stay at the Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach, donated by Patrick and Sharon Harrigan.
Coming in second was a beautiful diamond and blue topaz necklace donated by Magnum Jewelers, which raised $3,000. The winning bidder, in turn, donated the necklace to another charity – the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman’s Meals on Wheels programme.
‘I’m thrilled at the generosity and the participation,’ said event organizer Diane Brazelton, noting this year’s fundraiser drew the largest crowd since its inception.
Along with live and silent auctions, the fundraiser featured a champagne reception, candlelight dinner, music and entertainment. Andrew Bacon kept the evening flowing doing triple duty as host, DJ and auctioneer.
Cayman Airways took the opportunity to introduce its new charitable programme, Put a Little Love in Your Heart. The programme encourages patrons to donate their Cayman Airways frequent flyer miles to the Humane Society to assist with airlifting puppies to be adopted out at the Humane Society of Broward County in Florida and for staff to accompany the animals.
The national flag carrier has plans to expand the programme to include other charitable causes on the island as well.
Funds from the dinner and auction will be put towards the animal shelter’s spay and neuter programme and facilities improvements.
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