Parties bring out animal lovers & more

Left to right Mark Kimball, Richard Hebein, Bob Holder, Joe Ferrari, and Jeff Millns during the Toledo Animal Shelter picnic, at the Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg, Ohio.

The Blade/Jeremy Wadsworth
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Ric Clark from Team Chihuahua in the Dog Race at the Dealin' for Dogs event to help the assistance dog program.

Giant dice, cards, and poker chips set the scene for the seventh annual casino night Dealin' for Dogs Sept. 8 to benefit Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence, A Program of the Ability Center at Tam-O-Shanter Sports and Exhibition Center in Sylvania.

Casino Gaming tables by Impact Fun filled the room as Distant Cousinz band played tunes. The grub from City Q Barbeque and Continental Services was tasty. A Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament was fun, especially for Bob Monard and Jane Spurgeon who split the winnings.

The live and silent auctions elicited lively bidding with auctioneer Jack Amlin assisted by emcee London Mitchell; there was a wine toss for a bottle of wine or a set of Libbey glassware, raffle prizes, and a dog race game won by the Dog Kockey team of Kiley Wasserman, Gail and Gary Phipps, Dean and Sharon Everly, Bob and Allison Thornton, and Greg and Karen Bade.

Tim Harrington, executive director of the Ability Center, welcomed everyone and Gary Phipps with service dog Cedar gave a heartwarming speech.

Event chairmen Karen Bade and Gale Tedhams report a net of more than $30,000.

Among the 300 supporters were Ted Bowman, Ability Center Board President, Tyler Yoder and parents Tim and Jenni Yoder, Janis and Chuck Witte, Jack and Cathy Witte, Lorie and Ric Clark, and Richard Rideout and Janet Albright.

The Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary Picnic Aug. 15 at Belmont Country Club was a night of fun and food. Tasty hors d'oeuvres were served on the patio overlooking the golf course as guests shopped the silent auction and purchased raffle tickets. Then dinner was served indoors. Everyone was pleased to know that the dogs of longtime supporters who passed away -- Bruce Roberts and John Vance -- have new homes.

Left to right Mark Kimball, Richard Hebein, Bob Holder, Joe Ferrari, and Jeff Millns during the Toledo Animal Shelter picnic, at the Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Auxiliary president Nancy Ligibel welcomed everyone. Longtime Toledo Animal Shelter Association vice president Barney Stickles talked about the shelter.

Among the 120 attendees were Grace Christopher, Jeff Millns, John Donofrio, Kate and Ryan Kelley, Karen Merrels, Jean Smith, Lucy Anton, Jackie Rousseau Werner and her husband Hank Werner, Stephanie White, Randy Snee, Deb and Les Buker.

About $3,000 was netted.

Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet, founded in 1978, celebrated its shelter's third birthday Aug. 24 and the grand opening of Kitty Cabana, the area's first outdoor cat enclosure where felines can enjoy sunshine and fresh air during shelter hours as they wait to be adopted. The new structure was made possible thanks to a generous donation from long-time supporters Steve Serchuk and Nancy Delikat and the Midwest Happy Tails Animal Fund, said June Remley of nearly the all-volunteer organization.

Wine & Wishes, a special wine tasting presented by the Town Center at Levis Commons to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, Northwest, was Sept. 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event raised $2,000, enough to grant a wish to a child with a life-threatening illness.

Party-goers tasted wines, all compliments of Heidleberg Distributing Company. Area restaurants donated tasty foods: Bar Louie, Biaggi's, JB's Sarnie Shoppe, Hilton Garden Inn, Poco Piatti, Tea Tree Asia Bistro, Max & Erma's, and Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Yogurt'V, and Starbucks Coffee.

Among the 250 attendees was event chairman Jamie Heldt, who was assisted by the Young Professional Advisory Council of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The weather was perfect Sept. 9 for the 9th Annual Hidden Garden Party presented by The Andersons at Schedel Arboretum and Gardens along the Portage River in Elmore. Champagne, appetizers, dining stations, music, magic, and silent and live auctions were all part of the soiree.

Maggi Dandar poses for a photograph at the Schedel Garden Party.

Longtime auctioneer and Schedel donor Jim Whalen was honored with the first Jean T. Ward Distinguished Service Award by Rod Noble, executive director.

Among the 215 attendees were Dick and Fran Anderson, Marty and Kathy Holmes, Phil and MaryLou Rudolph, Marcia Ward and Tim Johnson, Ed and Linda Reiter, Dick and Dolly Flasck, Marv and Nancy Robon, Diana Kerr-Brown and her husband Mark Chappuies, and Joe and Deb Badger of Genoa. Former executive director Reg Noble and his wife Sherry also attended.

About $75,000 was raised for Schedel.

RE/MAX Preferred Associates Party in the Parking Lot hosted by brokers Kathy Kuyoth and John Mangas Sept. 6 in the company parking lot had something for everyone at the family event.

Vince Lyons, Waterford Bank; Eddie Campos, RE/MAX Preferred; Johnny "O," RE/MAX Preferred; and Doug Kwiatkowski-Danberry, cranked up the tunes as members of the Foreclosure band.

Meanwhile children enjoyed the bouncy house and face painting.

The grills fired up and were tended by Jim and Amy Johnson of Seagate Inspections. Party revelers included Larry Boyer, Bob and Molly Mack, Randi Damman, Brittany and Kevin Welch and daughters, and Linda Parker.

The Women's Council of Realtors hosted a bake sale that raised $384 for Children's Miracle Network. Realtor Marcia Rubini was there with her four-generation clan including her mother, daughter, and granddaughter.