Tri-County Animal Rescue board and gala chairwoman Sharon DiPietro kicked off their long-awaited expansion at the end of the 14th Annual Doggie Ball.
“We received the green light to start our capital campaign tonight before 667 advocates [at the ball] and this new building was our impossible dream,” she said at the April 10 gala and silent and live auctions in Boca West Country Club.
Calling auctioneer Corey Saban back to the bandstand to launch the pledge drive, she announced naming rights for the patriarch room for older animals. Andrea Kline, a Tri-County trustee on the Doggie Ball committee, pledged $25,000.
State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who emceed, and his wife Lynn, a Tri-County ambassador, led the $1,000 pledges for bricks. Soon the dance floor was filled with people who were asked to come forward after their pledge for their doggie bone necklace from Gregory’s Fine Jewelry in Delray Beach.
As guests walked in, Tri-County staff and supporters had dogs on a leash or carried puppies for adoption. There were three rooms filled with silent auction items from jewelry to art and golf, even a high heel shoe-shaped dog bed.
Nashville country and western band Spechlis played in the lounge, and guests wore the requisite cowboy hats, denim and fringe. A served dinner instead of a buffet this year even had dog bone-shaped cookies and a white chocolate dog house on the tables.
DiPietro saluted the memory of Tri-County founder Jeanette Christos and called co-founder and executive director Suzi Goldsmith to the stage for accolades.
Saban led a live auction that included Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the firm’s New York flagship on Fifth Avenue and a men’s Atlas watch, a golf cart and a trip to Umbria, Italy.
Also honored was Arthur Benjamin, whose dog Bandit was this year’s grand marshal, and a Diplomat Society was announced for major donors such as Marta Batmasian. DiPietro thanked “my incredible husband” Jay DiPietro, who runs Boca West, for his support.
Honorary chairpersons this year were Edith and Martin Stein, Kristina and Richard Stein, Shelly and Arthur Adler, and Pam and Deputy Mayor Robert “Bob” Weinroth, who came dressed as a sheriff with a badge.
