PAWS Fur Ball 2022
The PAWS Fur Ball 2022 was a night to remember!
On November 11, 2022, PAWS Chicago hosted their 21st annual Fur Ball — a pet-friendly black-tie event to raise money for homeless pets.
FOX 32’s very own Natalie Bomke served as the emcee, along with Jake Hamilton and Sylvia Perez.
The event was sold-out, but if you missed out on a gala ticket, you could still participate in the silent auction online.
“We have a silent auction that anyone can bid on from all of Chicago if they go to PawsChicago.org. We have some incredible items like Taylor Swift tickets, wine packages, trips; you name it. And everything benefits homeless pets and the work that we do to save the homeless pets of Chicago,” said Susanna Homan, PAWS Chicago Executive Director.
Presented by
Wayne & Nan Kocourek
Co-Chairs
Nancy Timmers & Jon Harris
Honorary Co-Chairs
Melissa & Michael Canning
PAWS FUR BALL 2022 sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Wayne & Nan Kocourek
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Conagra Brands | Peter & Paula Fasseas Foundation | Josh and Caiti Mateffy | Murray, Anne Marie, Kesey, & Stoker Peretz | Seidensticker Family Foundation | SF Foundation
HOST COMMITTEE
Janice & Phil Beck/Jeff Hall & Elly Mancinelli | Melissa & Michael Canning | Mark Holder & Megan Seiboldt | The Khan Family | Scott & Nancy Santi | Kimberly Slivensky | Nancy & Michael Timmers | Kristine & Ron Wexler
LIFESAVERS
Marek Fine Jewelry | Business Valuation Group | Rita & John Canning | Pam & Ed Carey | Deborah & Bruce Crown | Pam Zunker Myerson & Bob Zunker and the Mullaney/Kelly Family and Bonnie & James Spurlock | Cathy & Bill Osborn | Porsche Exchange | Workstorm | WOW Development Group
CHAMPIONS
The Beecken Family Foundation | DineAmic Hospitality | College of Veterinary Medicine | University of Illinois | Urbana-Champaign | ITW | National Veterinary Associates
HEROES
BellaLexie | fairlife | Beth Foley Consulting | The Inner Pup of New Orleans | JoanneSellsChicago | Loyola Medicine | Merrick Pet Care, Inc. | Lauren & James Montupet | Robert & Mayari Pritzker Family Foundation | The University of Chicago, Office of Business Diversity | Pat Welch & Maia Mosillo | Zapwater Communications
MEDIA SPONSORS
Committee Members
Sharon Bergen | Melissa Canning | Hsing Chen | Brittony Croasdell | Terri D’Ancona | Wayne Gailis | Kim Gleeson | Paula Goldman | Ramona Griffin | Bethany Guzman | Jon Harris | Courtney Howell Freeman | Paige Krueger | Anita Mauro | Chloe Mendel | Irene Michaels | Shay Moinuddin | Pam Myerson | Nina Owen | Joe Panarese | Mika Stambaugh | Nancy Timmers | Judy Tullman | Heather Yeager
The PAWS Chicago community has harnessed the natural human instinct to want to help and care about our four-legged friends to help pets in need. The non-profit organization respects and values the life of every cat and dog. Overpopulation and homelessness are a significant problem in Chicago and leads to a situation where these animals can lose their lives. With this being the reality, PAWS Chicago is devoted to building No Kill Communities.
PAWS was founded in 1998 with a single aspiration, to save pets at risk of euthanasia. People needed to know the truth about the mass-scale killing of homeless pets. In 1996, people were unaware of pet overpopulation and did not realize most homeless animals were being killed. Through volunteer work, PAWS founders Paula and Alexis Fasseas’, discovered shelters in the Chicagoland area were replacing basic medical care with euthanasia. In fact, in May 1997, a Chicago Sun-Times article revealed more than 40,000 pets in Chicago were being killed each year. A year later, in May 1998, PAWS Chicago was launched with an adoption event, Angels with Tails. Since then, PAWS has shared its belief that Pets Are Worth Saving. The growth and evolution of the non-profit has been driven by public awareness and the recognition that every person can take action to help homeless pets. This collective action has had transformative results, with the killing in Chicago declining by more than 91% since PAWS Chicago’s founding.
None of this can be accomplished without the donations and support of people and organizations committed to helping homeless pets. The Fur Ball is the largest fundraiser of the year for homeless pets, and every dollar raised is essential to fulfilling their mission. The PAWS Fur Ball 2022, Chicago’s premier pet-friendly black-tie gala, was held at the Drake Hotel. Over 600 guests dressed in ballgowns and tuxedos, along with their four-legged friends dressed in equally splendid attire, attended this year’s ball. Pets and their human companions enjoyed an elegant evening of dinner, dancing, silent and live auction, and other pet-friendly activities. The evening of elegance and compassion raised critical funds to support PAWS Chicago’s programs. The amazing work of PAWS has made it possible for homeless animals to be rescued and find their own home and for people to care for them and love them. Every dog and cat should be given the same opportunity, and PAWS is dedicated to making that possible. With the Holidays right around the corner, PAWS has partnered with some great businesses that will give proceeds back to PAWS Chicago. Take a look at the PAWS Holiday Gift Guide and save lives this holiday season!
It was my pleasure to be part of this sellout event that raised nearly $1.7M for homeless pets!
