Thank you for making the
2005 "Roaring '20s" Fur Ball a Roaring success!
6TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER & AUCTION Friday October 21, 2005
FUN is the word that was most often used to describe Big Cat Rescue'sl Fur Ball and this year was the best year yet! We netted over $60,000.00 this year! See the fun HERE.
The fun starts in deciding what to wear. The traditional "Safari Costume Formal" attire is still very much in vogue.
Thanks to our supporters, we raised 5% for conservation and sent $1000.00 to each of these programs: Dr. Sanderson's Small Cat Photo Trap Program in Asia, Lewa Conservancy in Africa and Project Guyana to create an eco lodge in South America.
Then, thanks to generous donors and vendors, the ball is packed with activity and culinary delights. These include:
- complimentary palate pleasing Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet from Papio Winery, who donate a portion of the profits to African Wildlife Fund.
- sensuous chocolate fountains by Chocolate Cascades
- enticing casino tables by DanMar Productions, complete with Roulette, Blackjack and Slots. Play to win souvenir playing cards that you can combine with the cards of other guests at your table to make the best poker hand you can. The table with the best poker hand wins the grand prize!
- fabulous live auction items to bid on, including a 5 day Hawaii vacation, a 4 day African safari, tickets to Dusseldorf, 30 days in a Jaguar X-type, a week in the mountains of North Carolina, a week in a Lexus SC430 convertible, and an hour in a high tech military flight training simulator not available to the public. See details below.
- silent auctions, see the results here.
- gourmet dinner by A La Carte
- and dancing to the wonderful Jazz sounds of the Wholly Cats Band!
- hear the ad that Cox Radio is running on 6 of their stations
- Meet our sponsors and donors HERE.
Got a great Fur Ball photo? Email it to MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org and we will try to incorporate it into our slide show.
BIG CAT RESCUE IS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS
FOR SUPPORTING THIS EVENT AND OUR WORK WITH THE CATS -
PLEASE CONSIDER THANKING OUR SPONSORS WITH YOUR PATRONAGE
KING OF BEASTS CHAMPIONS
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CANDACE K. BARBARA |
MAJOR MEDIA SPONSORS
See the ads they are running HERE
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LEOPARD RESCUERS |
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COUGAR DEFENDERS |
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FACILITY SPONSORS
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Chocolate Cascades is generously donating THREE decadent Chocolate Fountains with a value of over $2,500.00. Come enjoy 120 pounds of Chocolate with a 44" Chocolate Fountain of Dark Chocolate and a 34" Chocolate Fountain of White Chocolate and another fountain of Milk Chocolate. Feast on Extra Chocolate Toppings: Coconut, nuts, maraschino cherries, funfetti, whipped cream. Chocolate Cascades will be providing dipping items for 600- 800 that include Strawberries, Grapes, Sliced Bananas, Cubed Pineapple, Pound Cake, Pretzels, Marshmallows, Biscotti and Melon Balls) It's first come, first serve, so plan on getting here early.
There will be 3 Roulette Tables, 3 Blackjack tables and 2 Slot type machines manned by professional dealers and pit bosses from 7 PM - 10:30 PM and your name can be posted on them as sponsors. Everyone will want to play and will associate your name with the good time they had. Since no one loses when there is no money on the tables, you benefit from everyone having a roaring good time.
FIVE DAY HAWAIIAN VACATION - $4000
Donated by Williamsburg Travel and Classic Custom Vacations. Includes flights, accommodations at the Sheraton Waikiki and West Honolulu Diamond Head, and rental car. Subject to airline holiday and peak season black out dates. Williamsburg Travel operates 21 offices around the country helping mid size companies control their travel expenses and giving personal attention to vacation travelers. www.WillTrav.com
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FOUR DAYS AT LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY IN KENYA - $2700
Each year a group of volunteers and staff from Big Cat Rescue take a trip to Africa. Out of all of the available safari camps, Lewa is the one they choose. Every year our travelers come back raving about the experience. Lewa has generously donated Four Nights in their Safari Camp that includes full board and game drives for two people (does not include airfare). To learn more about Lewa, you can visit www.lewa.org or email info@lewa.org
THIRTY DAYS IN A JAGUAR S-TYPE - $2500
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Spend 30 days in a Jaguar S-Type donated by Jaguar of Tampa www.JaguarOfTampa.com. Jaguar of Tampa was the largest single supporter of Big Cat Rescue in 2004. 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.
TWO ROUND TRIP TICKETS TO DUSSELDORF - $1600
Donated by LTU Airline. Valid from any US LTU gate (including Orlando, Miami, Ft. Myers, New York, L.A.). LTU is one of the largest German holiday airlines. Every year LTU carries more than 5.7 million passengers on its 24 red and white colored aircraft. www.LTU.com
ONE WEEK IN A LEXUS SC430 CONVERTIBLE - $1500
Look and feel sharp for a week in this luxury convertible donated by Lexus of Tampa Bay. Visit Lexus of Tampabay by clicking on the car or in person at 5852 North Dale Mabry Tampa, FL 33614. 813-888-8221
ONE HOUR FOR TWO IN HIGH TECH MILITARY FLIGHT TRAINING SIMULATOR - PRICELESS!
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"Fly" a C-130 Hercules Simulator. You and one 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 turpoprop military transport aircraft. This simulator is being used every day to train U.S. and international military aircrews. This opportunity is not offered to the general public at any price, but is being graciously donated to the Fur Ball by CAE USA INC.
St. Pete Times Reports:
NO CAT LEFT BEHIND: The Roaring '20s Fur Ball folks are purring about adopting out nearly all of their 150 lions, tigers, bobcats, leopards and other exotic cats for $25 each at the Oct. 21 benefit for Big Cat Rescue.
Dressed as flappers and safari hunters, 500 guests sat down to a vegan dinner and Papio wines at A La Carte Pavilion instead of the usual buffet. Dessert came first for many when they discovered the decadent chocolate fountains donated by Chocolate Cascades.
Tribal urges emerged in Jana Broder's drum circle, at DanMar's casino tables and dancing to Wholly Cats. Most unusual auction item: An hour in a high-tech military flight training simulator sold for $700 to Terrance Murphy.
In all, the ball raised about $50,000 for the 45-acre refuge in Citrus Park.
Founder Carole Baskin renamed the Founders Award the Cathy Mayeski Award because she has won it so many times. She helped choose which of the 60 volunteers should receive it this year: Jen Ruszczyk.
By AMY SCHERZER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2005
Quotes from our guests:
Kathy Castor, who is running for Congress said: "The Fur Ball was outstanding this year!"
"I just wanted you to know how fantastic the Fur Ball was. I was very, very impressed, putting on events myself, and silent auctions, and we had a really good time." Ebe Bower Vice President, Tourism Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"Congratulations on another hugely successful Fur Ball. Carl and I had a wonderful time. It keeps getting better every year." Susan Bass Marketing Communications Manager for
Holland & Knight LLP
"I want to thank you for an excellent evening at this year's Fur Ball. We were delighted to be a sponsor and will definitely participate again next year. I know everyone at our table enjoyed themselves. What a great evening!" Cicily Mendez Simon's Quality Used Furniture
"What an awesome event last night! The Fur Ball was a huge success and I had a wonderful time. Congratulations on a Great Event!" Kathy Perry YTB Travel.