The Fur Ball, a fundraiser held by the Champaign County Humane Society, will take place Friday night at the I-Hotel and Illinois Conference Center in Champaign.
The funds from the event will go directly toward the care of about 200 pets. These funds will help support adoption services and urgent medical needs. Last year’s event raised $140,000, according to Elizabeth Young, events coordinator at the humane society.
The Fur Ball is an annual gala where attendees can take part in raffles and auctions to win prizes including wine bags, jewelry and a trip to Key West, said Mary Tiefenbrunn, executive director of Champaign County Humane Society.
“It’s this one night that we get together, we get dressed up and we go out. We get together with 250 of our closest friends and celebrate pets and celebrate what we do,” Tiefenbrunn said. “It’s a place where it’s not just socially acceptable to whip out your phone and show pictures of your pets, it’s actually encouraged.”
Tiefenbrunn said fundraisers like the Fur Ball are how they keep their services running.
“We’re entirely dependent on the local community to fund us with their donations and their time,” she said.
The shelter has a volunteer program where participants can aid in dog-walking, clean cat cages and play with the animals.
Young said the society’s mission is about caring for animals in need.
The humane society’s adoptions program also has a Home to Home service where pets can be rehomed through an online program directly without going through the stress of entering a shelter.
“Our adoptions program is a huge part of what we do,” Young said. “Having the space for people to bring us animals whenever their lives change and having the capacity to find them new homes.”
Young said community members can also aid their cause if they can’t attend in person by participating in the online silent auction.
“We are so grateful to have a community that really cares for pets and really wants to see animals homed in loving families,” Young said. “Their generosity keeps our doors open.”
More information about the Fur Ball can be found at cuhumane.org. The silent auction will be available at onecau.se/cchsfurball.