Spotlight Humane: Dallas - a magical evening, and $225,000 to fight puppy mills-see the photos

Union Station, site of Spotlight Humane: Dallas

Here it is weeks later, and people are still talking about the first annual Spotlight Humane: Dallas gala, which took place on March 26th at Union Station.  Over 400 animal lovers from all over the area attended the sold-out event to raise awareness of HSUS’s Stop Puppy Mills Campaign.  It was billed as "an elegant evening of cocktails, gourmet dinner, silent and live auction, and entertainment", and it certainly lived up to expectations, and more - raising $225,000 in one evening.

The evening started with yummy cocktails, tantalizing hors d'oeuvres, live music, and a room brimming with upscale silent auction items to bid on. Artfully arranged on elegant black-draped tables were rows of gift certificates, exquisite jewelry, fine art, finely crafted watches, autographed celebrity photos, intriguing gift baskets, beautiful books, designer pet beds, and plenty of gifts for pets and pet lovers.  Dinner was served in the majestic Grand Hall, where Good Morning Texas co-host Rob McCollum kicked things off by acknowledging Honorary Chairs Peggy and Jacquelin Sewell.  HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle, Presenting Sponsor American Dog Rescue's Arthur Benjamin, and Stephanie Shain, senior director of HSUS Stop Puppy Mills Campaign were the evening's featured speakers.  A moving video showcased HSUS most recent puppy mill busts and featured several local rescuers who were in attendance and received an unexpected, but much-deserved standing ovation.

After dinner, Rob McCollum took to the stage once again to serve as auctioneer for the live auction.  Bidding went quickly on the upscale live auction items - a romantic trip for two through wine country, an Indy 500 package for 4, a VIP package to the Genesis awards in LA, and 5-night stay at the Ritz Carlton in Maui. The crowd loved it, cheering on the bidders, and applauding wildly when Jack Knox won the very popular week-long stay at a 5-star resort in Tanzania, and then donated it back, a generous gesture that seemed to capture the fun and the spirit of the evening.  The Hunter Sullivan Big Band did a superb job setting the mood for late-night dancing capping off a simply magical evening for a very worthy cause.

Comments posted the day after were overwhelmingly positive, with many guests anxious to buy tickets for next year's event, already destined to sell out as quickly as the first.  Kudos to event co-chairs Kristina Bowman, Catharine Flagg, and Holly Forsythe for a superb event.