Local animals in need will get a leg up during the second annual “A Cause for Paws” event to benefit the Borderland Humane Society.
“We plan on making it an annual event,” said Angelique LaFrance, vice president of the Borderland Humane Society. “It was a huge success last year — more than what we had anticipated.”
This second annual event, sponsored by UnitedHealth Group, will take place from 6-10 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Holiday Inn. Heavy appetizers will be served during the family-oriented event, to which the community is invited.
Last year, the event raised more than $9,500 for local animals.
“It’s a very good cause,” LaFrance said, hoping that this year’s event will out-perform last year’s fund raiser.
“The funds that UnitedHealth Group raises go to help support the well-being of abused and neglected animals in greater International Falls and Koochiching County,” explained Robin Ramquist, BHS public relations officer.
UnitedHealth Group sponsors the event by allowing an employee committee to work on the fund raiser, LaFrance said. There are 10 UnitedHealth Group employees on the committee.
LaFrance said that she became involved with the BHS last year through her involvement in this event, and now sits on the BHS Board.
Events will include a live auction, silent auction and drawings. A video of animals in need will also be presented during “A Cause for Paws.”
Learning from last year, BHS volunteer coordinator Kallie Kantos-Fritz and LaFrance said that the live auction would be condensed, with related items grouped, to make more time for perusing the items, mingling with other people at the event and watching the videos.
“We want it to feel a little more open,” LaFrance said. “We want to make it a little more comfortable, more roomy.”
The women noted that they asked for feedback last year and have used the responses to coordinate this year’s event.
Ramquist said that items for the auctions are being requested from Minnesota businesses. Out-of-town companies have been solicited by letter, and event representatives have personally gone to local businesses to solicit items for donation.
Auction items are listed on the BHS Web site, and are constantly being added, the women noted.
“The community is very great about donating,” Kantos-Fritz said.
Last year, a UnitedHealth Group program, that donates money to causes in which its employees volunteer, gave an additional $2,000 to the BHS on top of what was raised during the event. Kantos-Fritz noted that she and other employees have already planned to designate their donation to the BHS again this year.
The money from the fund raiser is used for spay/neuter, vaccinations, medical care and supplies for the animals; as well as other expenses for the BHS.
LaFrance explained that when the BHS was considering taking over operations of the former city pound from International Falls, having the security of the “A Cause for Paws” funds gave them the ability to move forward.
“If we didn’t have that cushion, we don’t know if we would have been able to really go forth with taking over that. It was a really big step,” LaFrance said.
The BHS took over the pound in July, turning it into the BHS holding facility. The facility is used as a temporary home for animals up for adoption which are not placed in foster homes.
Admission to “A Cause for Paws” is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Advanced tickets are available at the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, City Drug and Rainy River Veterinary Hospital.
To make a donation or with questions, contact LaFrance at 240-1037. More information can be found on the Borderland Humane Society Web site, www.borderlandhumanesociety.org.
