The Humane Society’s annual “big” fundraiser, “A Night Amongst the Vines,” could not have been better.
Set in a dazzling, bucolic venue (the Addamo Vineyards), the “Night” featured great food, great wine, a great band, and great auction items, all at a great price: Tickets cost $100 per person and $80 for members of the Addamos’ Red Carpet Wine Club.
The surprise of the evening was the great (there’s that word again) turnout. Considering the economy, and the fact that there were other events competing for attendance—140 pre-sold tickets were more than respectable.
Volunteer Laurie House (former house manager for PCPA) is a whiz at calculating seats filled—she told me there were also 20 walk-ins. Three extra tables had to be set up. A headcount of 160 is pretty darned good. But who would want to miss an event like this?
The Humane Society and event chairperson Liz Addamo (aided and abetted by co-chairs Bunny Maxim and Wanda McDonald) did not disappoint.
As we walked into the huge white tent adjacent to the Tuscan villa-style Addamo home, we passed dogs available for adoption. Two darling mini-schnauzers, Boots and Duchess, were center stage. These little love bugs enchanted all who stopped to socialize with them.
Photographer Jeremy Teitelbaum took photographs for a small fee. The pictures featured the gorgeous background of endless vineyards and the foothills.
“Julie and the Bad Dogs” played music suitable for dancing and toe tapping.
Among the silent auction items were Jody Veneman’s fabulous artsy birdhouses. There were lots of temptations for pet owners, and, of course, an exciting live auction, too.
County Supervisor Joe Centeno and wife Sylvia, Brooks Wise (president of the new Mission Community Bank), and Dale and Debbie Johnson (he’s president of Sure-Fresh Produce) were among those chatting it up before dinner.
The piece de resistance of the evening was the food. Volunteers passed plates of impressive hors d’oeuvres—my personal favorites were the puff pastry embellished with cheese and a thin slice of tomato and the tiny chicken legs hot off the grill. Dinner consisted of grilled steaks with salad, baked potatoes, and garlic bread. Vegetarians enjoyed veggies over pasta.
Volunteers delivered to each table, first, plates of grilled pork ribs and then plates of grilled shrimp on skewers. Was that too much? I think not.
The dessert table featured chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered biscotti, chocolate brownies, and chocolate candy. The Blue Sky Coffee Co. furnished coffee.
At my table were Dan and Peggy Blough, and Dan’s sister Marji Hernandez and her husband Rudy. Peggy gave me a heads up on a Domestic Violence Solutions event coming up in October: “Girls Night Out.” Bo Cudd, president of the Humane Society board, told me that Peggy will also be helping with future Humane Society fundraisers.
The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society is about to build a new 20,000-square-foot facility. Crews recently broke ground for the building. Board members are ultra-excited that they have raised almost $2 million toward a $3.4-million goal.
Visit smvhs.org for information on how to contribute to this exciting project that will help save the lives of abandoned and unwanted pets.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Jun 18-25, 2009.
