Homeward Animal Shelter fundraiser

Culture | October 15th, 2015

Next Thursday, for the sixth year in a row, NDSU’s Alumni Center will host Wags, Whiskers and Wine, an annual fundraiser for the Homeward Animal Shelter. This includes wine tasting, local cuisine, auctions and a live jazz band, with all proceeds going toward providing services for shelter animals, such as vaccinations, spaying and neutering, leashes, food and toys.

According to Special Events/PR Coordinator Heather Klefstad, the event begins at 6:00 p.m. and goes until 9:00 p.m., with KFGO radio host Mike McFeely serving as emcee.

“There will be wine-tasting by Happy Harry’s Bottle Shop -- they’re our prime sponsor,” Klefstad said. “And we’ll have a number of different food vendors. Just to name a few, there’s Breadsmith, Santa Lucia’s, Rhombus Guys, Fantasies in Frosting … You can come and have wine, have great food, and there’s a silent auction and a live auction as well.”

Prior to the live auction, a video will play featuring the shelter animals, their names and the dates they were rescued. Slideshows will continue to play throughout the evening, as a means of showing patrons where their donations are going, while the jazz band provides background music.

“It’s a pretty laid-back, casual event,” Klefstad said. “Some of us from the shelter will periodically talk throughout the night, but we let people mingle around and enjoy themselves and bid on the items.”

The live auction begins at 7:15 p.m., with a vintage baseball signed by Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and Ken Hunt as the auction’s featured item. This baseball is currently displayed at the Roger Maris Museum at the West Acres Shopping Center.

“There’s a lot of different items that are going to be in the live auction. We’ve got a six-night stay in a Florida vacation home, a couple guided fishing tours and some great art pieces. And for the silent auction, there are baskets with everything ranging from sporting tickets to baked goods to artwork again.”

Though the funds come primarily from ticket sales and auction items, patrons are free to make extra donations when they check out that evening. A giving tree will be set up, with a list of amounts going towards specific items needed at the shelter, along with general monetary donations.

“It’s just a lot of fun, it’s a great time,” Klefsted said. “And most importantly, it all goes back to the shelter animals.”

To reserve tickets, call 701-364-9013. For more information, head to homewardonline.org