2018 Golden Gala

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The 2018 Golden Gala was a resounding success! We raised over $50,000 to aid in the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of glden retrievers and golden-hearted dogs across North Carolina. Our gala would not have been successful without the support of our amazing sponsors, donors, and volunteers. You are the best!

It was an honor to have Wes Hohenstein, cheif meteorologist ad CBS17, emcee our event again this year. He did an outstanding job and provided great weather for our event. And the gala committee did an exceptional job preparing a wonderful evening for everyone, which was full of laughs and tears. It was truly a special evening. 

See below for highlights of the evening; including our award recipients, the call to action and circle of life videos shown at the gala, and pictures from the evening. You'll also foun the list of our wonderful sponsors and mano of our donors for the silent auction adn special activities below.  Thank you all!!! We look forward to seeing you next year!

Awards

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Golden Golden Award - Calley Gerber

 

 

Jennifer Edwards Award - Marilee McTigue

 

Marilee joined NRGRR in 2012 and has been involved in many roles since that time.  Marilee started as a foster and has continued to foster frisky puppies, seniors, and hospice fosters since that time.  Within the operations group she has served as the Applications Manager, processed applications, monitored calls on the applications hotline, and matched dogs with adopters. She is also a transporter and, word is, she has driven the most miles the past 2 years; with about 9800 mile in 2016 and 7800 miles in 2017.  Marilee has served on the Board as VP and Secretary and also served on the Executive, Operating and Chaired Governance Committees. 

During 2014, Marilee completed an analysis of NRGRR's information technology needs and worked with a cross-functional team to prepare an Information Technology Plan. She then worked with operations to select and implement an animal rescue management system called Trackabeast, which has transformed how the Operations Team manages all the dog intake, fostering, medical care, and more! 

Marilee is a retired business executive with 25 years experience in management consulting and the pharmaceutical industry and brings that experience to NRGRR.  Marilee is a "rock" and a voice of reason in all NRGRR discussions. 

Presentation of Appreciation - Donna Blackwell

 

Donna has served in every role in our rescue for more than a decade, and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Donna has fostered, led our applications team, served as an intake volunteer and transporter, can be counted on to help with events, execute placement contracts with adopters and more. Currently Donna leads our dog coordination team – every dog has a coordinator who “quarterbacks” the dog’s journey through Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue from intake through foster care to adoption. Donna leads this busy activity of coordinating vet appointments, training needs and foster support. Donna coordinates our twice-monthly meet and greet events, organizing our fosters and volunteers with regular communications. She is also active and reliable in the important behind the scenes work of updating our database and microchip records. While working full-time and caring for her mom, Donna works on rescue every day.

Donna remembers more dogs than anyone else in our group – probably due to her intense involvement with each dog in our rescue as well as her commitment to records maintenance. While this work is not exciting, it is important. Last year, we were notified that one of our dogs had been surrendered to a shelter. Without Donna’s excellence in maintaining our records, this vital connection would have been missed and we’d not have been able to rescue him a second time. 

Donna’s biggest rewards for her work are likely the happy emails from adopters and her "failed foster", Maggie.

The Suki Call to Action Challenge

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Debbie and John talk about adopting Suki17, now named Lizzie, and challenge everyone to match their $250 donation and pull together as a village to save more dogs.  Even though the Gala is over, the needs continue.  Please join Suki in helping other dogs in need.  Click here to make a donation today.  Thank you!

Circle of Life Video

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Here is the circle of life video shown during the presentation ceremony highlighting many of the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue Alumni.  The video was generously produced by Alex Smith with music by Sam Robson. Thank you!

Pictures of the Evening

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Here's a look back at the evening with photography graciously provided by our volunteer Ellen Yu.  You may click on the images for a larger view of these pictures.

The Venue - Raleigh Country Club

The Silent Auction and Activities

The Sponsors, Supporters, Guests and Volunteers

The Golden Ambassadors

The Awards Program and Call to Action

Golden Gala Sponsors

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Silent Auction and Activity Donors

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