Fur Ball Trips & Auction Items
To see main Fur Ball page and get tickets visit: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/furball.htm
LIVE AUCTION INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
Mama Mia
When Donna (Meryl Streep’s character) in “Mamma Mia” realized she could live in any paradise on Earth, she chose the Greek islands of Skiathos and Skopelos…and now you can too! Get off the beaten path and into sun-drenched bliss! Our winning couple will jet to Athens and embark on a mini-cruise to the spectacular island of Skiathos. You’ll then visit and shop on stunning Skopelos, sunbathe and play on Kastani Beach like the movie stars do and then dine on the finest fresh food in the world each and every evening. Greek hospitality is world-famous, the people fantastic, the sand sugar-soft and the water has a soft radiant blue luster of a million gallons of liquid sapphires. After dinner, you can enjoy a late night repast before retiring to your ocean-view resort, where the fresh soft sea breezes waft through your room all night long. This enchanting week long trip for two includes your deluxe accommodations, roundtrip air, your mini-cruise and your delicious evening refreshments. See more photos: 1 2 3 4
Eat your way through Europe
If you love good food and good travel, then this is the trip for you! The two of you will begin your trip by jetting to Paris. Once you have settled in to your private pensione, the best restaurants in the City of Light will light up your appetite. You'll enjoy lunch atop the Eiffel Tower and embark on a unique Gourmet French Epicurean tour with an expert food connoisseur who will take you to French neighborhoods where you will visit a traditional French bakery, delicious pastry shop, French caterer, wine shop, cheese shop, fruit and vegetable market. After two nights in Paris, including your special welcome at the Louvre and dinner cruise down the River Seine, you are off to Zurich, Switzerland to feast on spectacular traditional European delights...and of course Swiss chocolate no more than 20 times per day! While here, the two of you will venture to the Heidi-like region of Eastern Switzerland where you will enjoy a full day tour, sampling local cheese and chocolate before catching a cable car that will take you high above the Swiss Alpine peaks. Finally, you are off to Rome for the best table in the house at Alfredo alla Scrofa. Alfredo alla Scrofa is the world renowned restaurant where Fettuccine Alfredo was invented, and that's just one of 26 spectacular dishes on their menu. Our winning couple gets all; round-trip air to the most beautiful cities in Europe, gastronomical delights that you've only dreamed of, deluxe accommodations everywhere for your seven nights in Europe and memories to last you a 100 lifetimes! See more photos: 1 2 3
Splendid China
Imagine yourself on the most incredible trip you will ever experience. Witness all the splendors of ancient China. You and a guest will begin your adventure in beautiful Beijing, where you will visit Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. During your stay in Beijing enjoy a day trip to the Great Wall of China and marvel at the Ming Tombs. Then overnight by train, in your private compartment to Xian. Your English speaking guide will take you to see the famous 10,000 buried terra cotta warriors and much more. Then board your Yangtze River cruise ship for a three day voyage down this fabled waterway. On this cruise, you will see sights untouched in 2500 years. Then disembark and fly to Shanghai, the largest and most modern city in the world. While in Shanghai, the two of you will spend the evening at the Shanghai Opera House. Celebrated as the place for showing Chinese and foreign classical operas, this world famous stage will open your eyes and your heart to the true magnificence that is the Chinese performing arts. Again, you will enjoy incredible shopping, 3000 year old sights, and a culture and people hungry to interact with Americans. 12 days with air for two, upscale accommodations, 20 incredible meals, all sorts of tours, more, more and more. See larger photo
And Possibly.
Wheels, Heels & Meals
The two of you will jet to Milan to explore all its beauty and history. During your three days in this spectacular fashion city, your private guide will take you to the Top Secret design rooms of today’s hottest Haute Couture designers. Then you will board the most luxurious train in all of Europe, the Euro Star, for your jet-like trip to Modena for a private tour of the Maserati Technology Center where they have handcrafted the world’s finest automobiles for almost 100 years. Next it’s off to spend three nights at Riserva di Fizzano, deep in the vineyards, olive orchards and glowing golden wheat fields of Tuscany. While in Tuscany, you will learn fine Italian cooking from culinary masters. Your cooking course will whet your appetite to explore the surrounding region and enjoy the best shopping in all of Italy in San Gimigiano. This is the ultimate intimacy experience in classic Northern Italy. This has it all for a couple; Milan and the ultimate in fashion, Modena and Maserati, then finish the week at the most beautiful place in the world, Riserva de Fizzano, deep in the heart of golden Tuscany. Includes round trip air, your Maserati experience, special beverage tastings and your cooking school in Tuscany, your high-speed supertrain and all your deluxe accommodations in the best Italy has to offer. See more photos: 1 2 3
Trips are subject to change depending upon availability.
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Items below this line have not been confirmed yet.
OTHER UNIQUE LIVE AUCTION ITEMS
30 Days in the 2009 Jaguar XF and Right to Buy any Jaguar at Dealer Invoice
This is the vehicle that won the ‘Car of the Year’ award at the 2008 What Car? awards in London and also took top place in the 'Best Executive Car' category, ahead of the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes CLS. Steve Fowler, group editor of What Car?, called it “the best car Jaguar has ever built.” Spend 30 days in this "fusion of sports car and sedan" donated by Jaguar of Tampa. You not only get to drive the car for 30 days, but in addition then have the right to purchase this or any other new Jaguar on the lot at dealer invoice! Jaguar of Tampa has been a major supporter of Big Cat Rescue since 2003. Their involvement began when they provided the financial support that allowed us to rescue two sick, aging jaguar cats who were being kept in a basement in a roadside zoo in New Hampshire. For more on this generous rescue and photos of the cats CLICK HERE. Jaguar of Tampa is located at 320 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612. 813-371-8200. Not confirmed yet.
30 Days in the Sporty Saab 9-3 Aero and Right to Buy any Saab at Dealer Invoice
Spend 30 days with the wind blowing through your hair as you hug the road in this sexy convertible with Saab "Aero" technology donated by Saab of Tampa. According to Car and Driver reviewer Steve Siler, "this most powerful Saab car to date could end up being the best handling, as well." And after you test its mettle for that month, you have the right to save by purchasing any Saab in stock at dealer invoice! Why not stop by and see it before the ball? Saab of Tampa is located at 11608 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612. 813-774-3103. Not confirmed yet.
Time with the Last American Ace and One Hour For Two in High Tech Military Flight Training Simulator - Priceless!
A command pilot with more than 3,000 hours including 800 combat hours, Brigadier General Steve Ritchie (Ret) is our last American Ace and the most decorated airman in modern history. General Ritchie will personally brief you for your mission as command pilot of a C-130 Hercules Simulator. You and a companion will spend 60 minutes in a high tech flight training device. Under the guidance of an expert pilot, you can take off, fly and land this four engine turboprop military craft that is being used everyday by U.S. and international military aircrews to sharpen their flying skills for their most difficult missions and not available to the general public at any price. Now it is your chance! But that is not all! Your briefing will also include ground instruction in the "hottest" airplane the Air Force ever flew, the F-104 Starfighter. Only three Starfighters are still in airworthy condition and you have the chance to sit in the cockpit of real "Top Gun" history with General Ritchie. The Simulator experience is graciously donated to the Fur Ball by CAE USA, INC. Not confirmed yet.
How Fast Can You Drive?
Did you ever dream of driving a real NASCAR stock car at dizzying speeds at Daytona? Now you can! Our lucky winner will begin their Richard Petty Racing School with a hands-on class covering the secrets of high speed driving. Then it’s helmets and racing suit time and on to the track as you put your new skills into practice behind the wheel of a real NASCAR stocker. This is NOT some simulation or riding with another driver. It’s just you and your new-found skills behind the wheel of a genuine 600 horsepower stock car racing hot laps at the Daytona International Speedway or the new NASCAR track at Disney World. This is the real deal, and you will be too after winning this very special prize. Not confirmed yet.
Bucs Club Seats to Last Four Games
These are not just Bucs tickets - they are CLUB SEATS with private entrance, padded seats, great view, and access to the exclusive Club Lounge! Two tickets each to four games - see the Originally $295 each (total value $2260) and sold out so not available. See games 7-10 in ultimate luxury! Note: auction winner agrees not to resell these tickets. Generously donated by Jeff and Brigitte Ajluni. But, that is not all. With these tickets come following Bucs autogrpaphed items, two of which are one of kind!
Autographed copy of “Quiet Strength” by Tony Dungy
Big Cat Rescue T-Shirt autographed by Tony Dungy (one of a kind!)
Buccaneers Cap autographed by Derrick Brooks
Big Cat Rescue Cap autographed by former Buc James Wilder (one of a kind)
Framed autographed 8x10 photo of Cadillac Williams.
SAMPLE SILENT AUCTION ITEMS
Two day one night Lake Nakuru Kenya visit. Courtesy of highly experienced guide Hamadi Njoroge of Adventure Wildcats Safaris, we have for auction two certificates, each one for two days of safari and one night for two people including meals, luxury accomodations, transportation to/from Nairobi airport.
You can build a longer trip around this at a special Big Cat Rescue discounted rate. Each certificate has a retail value of $990.
You can meet Hamadi at the Fur Ball to discuss you plans.
Not confirmed yet.
Bucs Club Seats for game 5 and 6. These are not just Bucs tickets - they are CLUB SEATS with private entrance, padded seats, great view, and access to the exclusive Club Lounge! Two tickets each to four games - see the Originally $295 each (total value $2260) and sold out so not available. See games 5 and 6 in ultimate luxury! Note: auction winner agrees not to resell these tickets. Generously donated by Jeff and Brigitte Ajluni.
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Our costume scout committee will select 10 contestants to be called to the stage to display their costumes. The winner will receive:
Week Vacation in Pennsylvania Mountain Resort Condo
Spend a week in Big Cat Rescue's condo at Wolf Run Manor at the beautiful Treasure Lake in Du Bois, PA. Hike 9000 acres of woodlands, swim at the many beaches and pools. Amenities include boating, two PGA rated golf courses, driving range, nature trails, basketball court, sledding, tubing hill, parks, playgrounds and a marina. Week 31 (August 2009)
SALE AND SILENT AUCTION DONORS TO DATE
Commemorate the night by having your photo made at the Fur Ball by professional photographer Matt Nassif.
Have your cat prints painted on at the Fur Ball by Cat Camp.
Limo Service
Allstar will offer a 10% discount to anyone attending the Fur Ball for their transportation for that evening. Call 800-345-6614 and let the representative know that this is transportation for the Fur Ball.
DONATIONS TO THE SILENT AUCTION AND BIG CAT BARGAINS SALE NEEDED:
If you or your company have any product or service that we could add to our auction, PLEASE contact Jeff at JKremer@BigCatRescue.org You help a great cause while building awareness for your company not only to the hundreds of guests who are desirable customers or clients, but also to the thousands of supporters who read our newsletter and website. Certificates for dinner or other local services are especially helpful. If your gift is valued at $500 or more, please submit a photo and short bio on yourself or your company so we can provide extra recognition. Thank you.
A FEW INDICATIVE GUEST COMMENTS FROM PRIOR YEARS:
2005: Rob Elder from Jaguar of Tampa said, “This could be the most important social event of the year! We are going to come every year”. In 2004, he and his fiancée were there despite her being about to give birth to their first child, and in 2005 he had to come alone because they just had their second child days before! Congratulations!
2006: Jay O'Conner of Cox Radio said, “It's going to fill the Raymond James stadium at this rate! This is such an important cause to my heart.”
2007: "You have done it again! Last night was an absolutely fabulous party. I hope, of course, that you made lots of money for the cats – but the fundraising aside, the Fur Ball is one of the best parties out there. The video was excellent and moving, the food was delicious, Cynthia (Smoot) did a great job, Bo (Derek) was a wonderful addition, the auction had great items and kept the crowd involved, the drum circle and dancing are always a hoot…and of course looking at everyone’s outfits is a huge part of the fun. I also heard lots of positive comments about the shopping set-up, as opposed to silent auction. So thank you!!" Hugs, Cathy Unruh
Things that we heard over and over from countless people were:
“You guys really know how to throw a party!”
"This is so much fun! I am crying at the stories of the cats, but just can't stop dancing!” (The cats stories and photos rotated all night on a 12 foot, 6 foot and 2 foot screen in different rooms)
"Most fun event I've attended all year!"
Big Cat Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The sanctuary provides a permanent home for unwanted, abused and neglected exotic cats. Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Bobcats and more reside at the 45 acre Citrus Park refuge located just across the street from the Westfield Shopping Town. The Fur Ball is an annual event to raise funds for the close to 140 cats in our care.