Don Your Best for Pensacola Humane Society’s Annual Fur Ball Gala by Morgan Cole
L
ocal animal lovers will be coughing it up at the Pensacola Humane Society’s (PHS) fourth annual Fur Ball event on March 16. This black-tie soiree at the Pensacola Yacht Club has become one of the largest annual fundraisers for the nonprofit facility. Founded in 1943, the PHS was initially established as a one-person operation committed “to improving the lives of companion animals.” It achieved its no-kill status in 1985. Today, the shelter has more than a dozen employees with support from nearly 200 volunteers. Fur Ball made its debut in 2019, when the Humane Society was looking to boost revenue by hosting another major fundraising event in addition to their already well-established Barktoberfest and Paws on Palafox events. Eloise Lautier, Secretary of the PHS Board of Directors and Fur Ball event chair, teamed up with Deborah Dunlap, Michelle Sauls, Megan Kennedy and a small committee of local volunteers and board members to organize and host the first Fur Ball event. Since its establishment, the Fur Ball has grown to become the Humane Society’s most popular annual event, with tickets selling out each year.
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The inaugural Fur Ball was a huge success, with a packed house and more than $85,000 raised to benefit the PHS. Since then, that number has only increased, with a total of $125,000 raised at last year’s event. “Fur Ball is a sell-out every year! It’s a glamorous and glitzy evening that will warm your heart,” Lautier said. This year’s Fur Ball will be held on March 16 from 5:30 to 10 pm at the Pensacola Yacht Club located at 1897 Cyprus Street. The evening will include a gourmet dinner, music, cocktails and a series of both live and silent auctions, with the most notable being the popular “Bow Wow Wow Wow Table.” The lavishly decorated table is piled high with wrapped gifts for ten people, which is auctioned off to the highest bidder at the beginning of the evening. “There are at least $500 worth of gifts at each place setting, making this one of the most popular auctions of the night. It’s what Fur Ball has become known for,” Lautier explained. In addition to the gifts on the table, auction winners will also gain access to the open bar throughout the evening. The event will also feature a special Yappy Hour, in which
