How often can you say there is a Fur Ball coming up, and you don’t want to miss it? Only once a year! It is the 2nd annual Fur Ball to benefit the Champaign County Humane Society on Friday, September 25th, 6 pm, at the Hilton Garden Inn. The evening will include dinner, a silent auction, a live auction, and entertainment by harpist Abigail Maley. Auction items include jewelry, luxury box tickets to an Illinois football game, Cubs tickets, golf outings, a three-night stay for two at Heartland Spa in Gilman, gift certificates for many popular restaurants in Champaign and Urbana, and much, much more.
After several years of successful dinner/auctions, the first Fur Ball took place in September of 2008, raising more than $60,000 for CCHS. Champaign Realtor Stefanie Pratt, chair of the Fur Ball, was responsible for renaming the event and bringing it up to an even higher level of success. She thought of calling it the Fur Ball because she often refers to her beloved dog, Shelby Sue, as a “fur ball”. Stefanie says her great love of animals, and strong opposition to puppy mills and dog fighting prompted her to get involved with CCHS, “Animals show us how to love unconditionally and we should learn from that.”
Along with the Fur Ball chair, a committee of volunteers is working hard to make sure this Fur Ball is even better than last year’s. They have solicited sponsorships and donations so far that value more than $10,000. Sponsorships are still available. Individual tickets are available for $75 by calling 217-344-7297.
The Fur Ball is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for CCHS. The goal this year is $65,000. Mary “Tief” Tiefenbrunn, the Executive Director of CCHS, says the event is more than a fundraiser, “It is also a celebration—a celebration of all that we’ve accomplished in the past year!”
Tiefenbrunn says CCHS found new homes for more than 1,500 animals in the last year, reached out to hundreds of school children with their humane education program, and took part in a joint effort to provide spay/neuter clinics for low income cat owners.
For more information on the Champaign County Humane Society and the Fur Ball go to www.cuhumane.org.