A Heart-warming Event for the Animals!

MCHS’ annual gala, The Love Ball, was held on October 22 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda to celebrate the thousands of animals MCHS helps every year, and those who make it possible.

Over 250 people came together to enjoy an evening of dining, dancing, and dogs. The classy décor was created by Capital Décor and Events, and Access AV provided a flashy audio-visual display. The band Fresh Air played everything from favorite classics to today’s hits -- people couldn’t stay off the dance floor!

At the auction, guests bid on items such as a Morton’s Steak House & Hyatt Regency Bethesda package, an Alex Ovechkin signed Washington Capitals hockey puck, an overnight stays at the Gaylord Texan and Radisson Orlando, a Brian Orakpo autographed Redskins football and gift certificates to Redwood Restaurant & Bar, Cava, and Clydes Tower Oaks. Thank you to all the businesses that donated to our auction.

The canine guests enjoyed gourmet doggy treats at the doggy bar from Bark and Stella & Chewy’s. During the cocktail reception, guests got caricature portraits of their dogs from Big Heads Little Bodies.

Volunteer of the Year: Paul Gubisch
Foster of the Year: Mary Jane Villforth-Smith
Employee of the Year: Adelaide Soares
Veterinarian of the Year: Petros Voskerchian, DVM
Humane Award: Leslie Taylor, DVM and Victor Katz, DVM

We were honored to have prominent members of the community join us to celebrate the cause. Emcee Sue Palka, FOX5 weather forecaster, spoke about the two cats she rescued from MCHS fourteen years ago. Aly Jacobs from official radio sponsor MIX107.3, joined by her dog Izzy, was a guest presenter. Andrea Roane, WUSA9 weekday anchor, along with her two dogs, was also a guest presenter. Councilmember Nancy Floreen was in attendance, and Delegate Ben Kramer and Cindy Craven were sponsors of the event.

Gold Paw: Bone Jour
Silver Paw: Larry & Jolene Shapiro; Marla & Bobby Baker, Baker-Merine Family Foundation; Calvert Investments
Bronze Paw: Delegate Ben Kramer & Cindy Craven; Valerie & Dave Barrish; Pro Feed; Fetch Pet Care; Dogtopia; Whole Pet Central, Sniffers Doggie Depot; Herson’s Honda; Potomac Dog School; Fizgerald Auto Mall; Whole Foods Montgomery County

Media Sponsors: WRZQ MIX107.3; Scene Bisnow; Gazette; Equiery

Table Sponsors: Donna Citrin; Debra Robinson; Fixation Marketing; Dr. Leslie Taylor; Promark Real Estate and Vanguard Realty

In-kind Sponsors: Big Heads Little Bodies; Fresh Air Music; Capital Décor and Events; Access AV; Eden Creative Studio; Souleyret & Associates; Howard Parzow Auctioneer; Joseph Allen Photography; Bark!; Stella & Chewy’s; Super Pet Expo; Johnson’s Landscaping

Love Ball Staff
Juliana Willems, Events Manager
bj Altschul, Director, Community & Educational Relations
David Poole, Volunteer Coordinator
Kathi Alexander, E-Marketing Manager and Donations Administrator

Love Ball Committee
Kelly Citrin Blankfield
Rachel Feldman
Maria Young
Valerie Barrish
Victoria Jones
Jolene Shapiro
Ellen Slotkin
Vicki Thomas
Bianca Terry
Danielle Dipirro

2011 Photo Gallery

2011 Love Notes