AMERICUS — The Sumter Humane Society’s 10th annual Casino Night & Silent Auction is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at the Rees Park Economic Development Center. Each year, this fun and festive event attracts over 100 guests including gaming enthusiasts, animal welfare supporters, college students, young professionals, and other community members who love to party for a good cause. All guests will enjoy a casino-themed evening featuring gaming tables, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. The silent auction is always a highlight of the evening as it features an exciting variety of items including this year, in part, tickets to Flint RiverQuarium and Chehaw Park, gift certificates for Sweet Georgia Baking Co. and Café Campesino Coffee House, oil changes at Sunbelt Ford and J & J Oil Change, the use of a beach condo in Panama City, and discounts and coupons to use at restaurants and for retail items.
While the list of auction items is growing, sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels from High Roller at $5,000, Jackpot at $2,500, Royal Flush at $1,000, Four of a Kind at $500 to Full House at $250. All sponsorships receive tickets to the event as well as combinations of signage and public recognition. In-kind donations of goods or services will also receive recognition on the Sumter Humane Society’s website.
Lisa Whitaker, past president of the Sumter Humane Society and current treasurer, notes, “This event is our primary fundraiser each year, and the money raised benefits the animals directly in the form of food, medicine, bedding, vet care, and rescue. In fact, the money from this event makes it possible for the Society to provide a higher level of care to those animals we receive, thus making them more suitable for fostering and rescue. We’re all about rescuing and adopting, not warehousing the animals in our care.”
The Sumter Humane Society was founded in 1984, to care for dogs and cats made homeless by abandonment, over population, and human neglect. A 501(C)3 non-profit organization, the Society makes an impact on the quality of life for animals and humans in the community by utilizing grants and other creative programming, such as the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) in which over 200 dogs and cats were sterilized. Last year, over 500 dogs and cats were transferred to rescue facilities all over the U.S. and over 200 animals went to loving homes. The Society is committed to achieving ever increasing live outcome rates, in which the shelter moves more animals out through foster, rescue, and adoption than die or are euthanized due to lack of available homes or medical care.
In January 2015, for example, the live outcome rate was 87.23 percent compared with a rate of 57.95 in January 2014. A live outcome rate of 90 percent or higher will mean the shelter has attained the much desired no-kill standard. According to Whitaker, events such as the annual Casino Night & Silent Auction and their valued sponsors have made these current gains possible and bring the shelter closer to the day when it will be classified as no-kill.
To support the Society and its efforts, to purchase tickets for this event, or to receive more information about sponsorships or donations for Casino Night, contact the shelter at 229-924-0268 or visit admin@sumterhumanesociety.org.
—  Submitted by Kay Sassi Pace