Fashion For Paws Roars/Barks Past 40% Mark; Models & Committee Raise $~200,000!

WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO AREA -- With more than a month to go before the 2011 Fashion for Paws Runway Show on April 9th, 2011, the District’s furriest fundraisers have already raised more than $196,000; or 40% of its annual goal of $490,000.

While corporate sponsors, including generous donations from the likes of vitaminwater zero and Syzygy Event Productions have certainly played an important role in achieving such a milestone, much of the credit is owed to the Washington Humane Society program’s dozens of contending runway models – each of whom is striving to raise a minimum of $3,000.

Last week, the friendly competition heated-up with a handful of fun fundraisers.

Andrea Rinaldi and Jessica Lilienfield flank Food, Wine & Co. Chef Michael Harr.
Andrea Rinaldi and Jessica Lilienfield got the proverbial ball rolling with a “Wine & Dine” event for supporters at Bethesda’s recently-opened Food, Wine & Co. on Wednesday. The well-reviewed neighborhood bistro served-up platter after platter of complimentary appetizers for guests, as they sipped specially-priced $5.00 “pawtini cocktails”.

A suggested $20.00 door donation to the Washington Humane Society also bought friends a free raffle ticket, with Andrea and Jessica conducting periodic drawings for tempting prizes (including a ticket to the soon-to-sellout April runway show) throughout the evening.

Be sure to check out all 15 of our photographs from Andrea and Jessica's event HERE!

The women (and man) of Ella-Rue! (Photo courtesy of Vithaya Photography)
Kristen Murdock and Krista Johnson then took Washingtonians out for a stylish cocktails and shopping soiree early Thursday evening at Georgetown’s hottest designer consignment boutique: Ella-Rue.

The store had generously agreed to donate 10% of the day’s sales to Fashion for Paws, in addition to providing guests with complimentary glasses of champagne and specialty Svedka cocktails (playfully named after the hostesses’ furry friends), plenty of sweet (human) treats, and the chance to win a VIP ticket to the runway show.

Model Tiffany Carter re-opened Smith Point on a Thursday for the first time in recent memory!
Thursday actually played host to two-different Fashion for Paws fundraisers (both in Georgetown no less), with model Tiffany Carter managing to throw open the doors to late night weekend destination Smith Point a day early.

In agreeing to host the fundraiser, owner Bo Blair helped the Washington Humane Society raise over $1,000 in door donations alone in just a few scant hours.

Be sure to check out all 9 of our photographs from Tiffany's event HERE!

Guests braved the Sunday rain for Dr. Katy Nelson’s New Orleans-style fundraiser.
Finally, refusing to let an atypically rainy Washington day get the best of her, Dr. Katy J. Nelson threw a rockin’ good “Mardi Paws” party at the VSA ARTiculate Gallery on Sunday afternoon.

The New Orleans-themed affair invited guests to enjoy the live music of The Silent Critics (they were far from silent), while sipping on “Svedka Hurricanes” and snacking on plenty of festive treats, including a table piled high with home-baked “King Cakes”.

Artist Joyce Frank was also on-hand to help invitees get into the spirit of the event, with beautiful face paint designs that complimented nicely the animal-themed art lining the walls.

Be sure to check out all 51 of our photographs from Dr. Nelson's event HERE!

The furry fun continues D.C.!

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To learn more about the Fashion for Paws program, please visit the organization’s website.