Decade Party to benefit animal shelter
The Cape Coral Animal Shelter’s Decade Party is its largest signature event of the year.
And this year marks the shelter’s fifth fundraiser, which will pay homage to the 1970s.
“The Decade Party has been a major fundraising event for the Cape Coral Animal Shelter and each year we work hard to offer a fun and enjoyable evening,” said shelter President, JoAnn Elardo. “The community support for this event has been wonderful and we are grateful. The goal is to raise funds for the animal shelter in order to save more lives and give the city a service that is desperately needed. This past year we have been able to break ground and the building is going up so every dollar raised is going into this effort.”
Past events celebrated the Roaring Twenties prohibition, 1940’s war effort and Hollywood glamour, 1950’s America and last year represented the groovy 1960s.
Last year, the shelter netted just under $40,000 after some expenses, shelter board member Pamela Aubuchon said.
This year, shelter President JoAnn Elardo, hopes to raise 20 percent more than that.
On March 9, from 7 to 11 p.m., guests can don their finest polyester and platform shoes.
Aubuchon says the guest list averages around 250 to 350 people.
This year the event is located at Wicked Dolphin Distillery and will be presented by Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
“We’re going to tent the whole location and change it into Studio 54,” Elardo said.
Boston Red Sox announcer, Ted Fitzgeorge, ABC-7 News Anchor, Krista Fogelsong, and CCCIA Executive Director/CEO Bill Johnson, Jr. will be the master of ceremonies.
Tickets are $100 and that includes all food and an open bar. The theme this year is polyester and platforms. There will be fun costumes, cocktails, food, music, dancing, contests and a silent auction. Keep your eyes peeled for look-a-likes of your favorite ’70s personalities.
“There will be great music with a DJ,” Aubuchon said. “It’s going to be professionally decorated,” adding that costumes are not required, but are strongly recommended. Think Studio 54 and Saturday Night Fever.
Aubuchon says the proceeds from the event will go toward operational costs including hiring an executive director, clinic staff, kennel staff, and some administrative staff.
“We’re blessed that we’ve received some grants, but we haven’t received that many because for many of them you need to be a standing building,” she said, and the shelter is not yet completed. It’s slated to open its doors next fall.
Aubuchon says the shelter has received a lot of help from the community, too. For example, the SWFL Community Foundation gave them a grant for a van to transport the animals to the shelter.
“Every dollar helps. Every bit of volunteering counts,” she said. “That’s what makes this a great project. Everyone is involved.”