‘Denim and Diamonds’ is the theme at PAWS gala next week

RIVERSIDE — The PAWS Animal Shelter in Washington plans to hold a gala next weekend, repeating the fundraiser event at Riverside Casino for the second year as organizers hope to make it an annual affair.

While the organization has secured the funds for a new building in the Washington Business Park with a Riverboat Foundation grant, Shelter Director Amber Talbot said the group still sought money for furniture, and an outdoor park area for dogs at the new location.

“We’re planting a lot of trees and having a lot of outside space with park benches, walking trails, things like that,” she said. “We have a lot on the outside of the building we’re working on.”

With an auction, ticketed admission and a handful of sponsors, the gala is a considerable source of cash for the largely donation-funded animal shelter. But more than that, it proved a popular evening event for guests at its first iteration last spring.

“It is a different style of event, we wanted to try something new … we really wanted diverse opportunities for people to give, and a lot of folks like to dress up and have an evening out,” Talbot said. “It isn’t just about raising money, it is about bringing the community together and giving them a unique experience, to have fun and learn about us.

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It’s also an excellent chance to connect people with volunteer opportunities tied to PAWS, according to Talbot.

“A lot of what the program will be talking about is ways you can help, and not just monetary giving,” she said. “You can come foster an animal, or donate that bag of towels. That is absolutely critical to the success of our organization.”

The theme of the night is “Denim and Diamonds,” according to Talbot. It’s something of a tongue-in-cheek response to questions ahead of the first gala last year, which lacked a theme, and left many attendees unsure about the appropriate dress code.

Talbot said the open-ended theming encouraged guests to show up in their choice of casual wear, or go all-out with formal attire.

“We thought switching to ‘denim and diamonds’ would be a great way to let people do both,” she said. “That way, it’d be kind of stress-free, it’d take the guessing out of what to wear.”

The PAWS & More Denim and Diamonds gala is scheduled Saturday, March 15 at the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort. The program includes a social hour at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and a presentation and live auction at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are available through the shelter’s website. A link to do so is available in the online version of this article.

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