(Thanks to Deanne French at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel for submitting this story.)
T General Manager Bruce Brainerd, presented a check for $10,000 to the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter during the Howl-O-Ween Yappy Hour on Oct. 25 at the resort. Shelter Director Nancy Goodwin and PUP Laguna Beach Board Member Darcy Cramer were on hand to accept the check, which represented the net proceeds from Yappy Hour: Season Two.
“We are thrilled that through events like Yappy Hour that we are able to support compassionate causes such as the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter,” said General Manager Bruce Brainerd. “We are also grateful that the local community has embraced our mission of generating awareness and support for organizations that provide much needed community services, but rely heavily on private donations,” added Brainerd.
The highlight of the Yappy Hour Howl-O-Ween event was the annual costume contest that featured 96 dogs dressed as everything from lions, sharks and devils to pumpkins, bumble bees, and butterflies. Winners were awarded in the categories of Scariest, Most Glamorous, and Funniest/Cutest and, of course, Best in Show, which was an entry of three dogs representing the cast of Sesame Street. Each winner received a hand-crafted dog bowl by Debbie Carmen of Faux Paw Productions, a Mutt Lynch Winery gift box, a two-night stay at Camp Bow Wow and a selection of toys from PetsLoveToys.com.
Yappy Hour is part of The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel’s Community Footprints program. Community Footprints was created to encourage leadership in volunteerism, fundraising, product donations and mentoring programs at a local level. No project is considered too large or too small. Dedicated Ritz-Carlton Ladies and Gentlemen provide a wide range of support and services to their community, including fund-raising for local charities, reading to the blind, preparing and serving lunches at homeless shelters, donating books to schools and volunteering at food banks. The Ritz-Carlton Community Footprints stresses that the most important resource is not always money, but time.
