Animal Welfare Alliance event raised $7,500

A big “thank you” to all the people who supported the recent “Art for Animals” fundraiser for the Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA). The crowd at the closing (Tail End) reception at the Holiday Inn was our largest ever; and up for bid were more than 160 pieces of original artwork donated by generous area artists!

The event netted about $7,500 for AWA projects. That success was due to the hard work of several people, starting with Barbara Pelton and her staff at Artfully Framed. They framed and labeled all the artwork and made most of the reception arrangements.

Special kudos go to our sponsors, who helped underwrite the reception: The Creekside Studio of Art & Design, Lisa Reynolds Insurance Agency, Ozark Federal Credit Union and Somewhere in Time Antiques & More, all in the Poplar Bluff area. Thanks, too, to Rusty Van Praag, proprietor of Techie HQ, who oversaw the computerized bidding process.

Part of the fun at the Tail End reception was provided by Linda Kush, owner of Sit and Stay Dog Boarding & Daycare near Poplar Bluff. She brought her two trained canine artists, Roxie and Riley. Thanks also to furniture king Slug Hefner, Minit Print Inc., and the Lemonade House Grill, all of them having kicked the fun up a notch.

An original painting by artist and jewelry merchant Steve Whitworth is still being raffled off. Raffle tickets are available at the Artfully Framed gallery in the Bluff Estates Shopping Center or by visiting artfullyframed.com/art-for-animals. Click on the auction button; then click on the arrow next to “view items” and choose raffle tickets.

All donations and proceeds from the event support AWA’s programs.

AWA provides $50 vouchers for qualifying pet owners to help with spay/neuter costs and has spent more than $70,000 on that project since 2009. With the cooperation of Poplar Bluff’s Animal Control officers, AWA also helps provide vaccinations for puppies and kittens in the city’s shelter. The organization sets aside half of all income toward construction of a regional no-kill animal shelter.

AWA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible within IRS guidelines. For more information, visit www.awasemo.org or facebook.com/awasemo .

— Travis Thomas
President,
Animal Welfare Alliance