2019 Get Your Rescue On® Gala Celebrates Lifesaving Milestones

North Shore Animal League America celebrated its 75^th anniversary of lifesaving work in style with a star-studded “blue” carpet, award presentations, record-breaking silent auction and touching animal rescue stories at our 2019 Get Your Rescue On^® Gala on November 15^th at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.  Nearly 400 supporters gathered to hear more about our organizations lifesaving accomplishments and help us continue our no-kill rescue and adoption efforts.

Television and stage actress Kathryn Erbe hosted the evening’s program during which Good Morning America co-host Lara Spencer was presented with the Crystal Collar Award^® and Corporate Honoree Boehringer Ingelheim was recognized.  The next generation of heroes were represented by Michael Tountasakis, Principal of Harris Middle School in Spruce Pine, NC and Ailene Mitchell, Principal of M.S. 88 Peter Rouget School in Brooklyn, NY—two schools that were honored with the Mutt-i-grees Humane Leadership Award for embracing the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum.  The students of both schools were inspired to collaborate on a humane relocation for 23 dogs and cats that linked their communities across the miles.

Friends of Animal League America took to the blue carpet in style at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Images courtesy Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com.

Celebrities who graced the “blue’ carpet with adorable pups included Beth and Howard Stern; Impractical Jokers’ Star and Adopter Joe Gatto; Comedian, Life Coach, and Adopter Lisa Lampanelli; Radio Legend and 2018 Crystal Color Honoree Elvis Duran; TV Personality, Executive Producer and Comedian, Brian Balthazar; WPIX-11 Anchors Tamsen Fadal and Dan Mannarino; iHeart Radio Personalities Maria Milito and Mo Bounce; Film and Television Actress, Maya Hawke; and NY Jets linebacker, Avery Williamson, among others.

Some of the highlights of this year’s program were:  an intimate performance by singer/songwriter Joshua Radin of “Here, Right Now” (proceeds from the video of this song, featuring Animal League America rescues, benefitted our organization) and a lively grand finale performance by Mark Farner’s American Band.

Of course, the rescued dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens are always the ones who really steal the show whether as guests at the cocktail hour or on touching videos showing how we heal those that are in desperate need before we find them loving, responsible homes.

Images courtesy Lisa Anselmo Photography and Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com.

Special thanks go to the Gala Committee, with Chair, Beth Stern, and members Lisa Alexander (MWI Animal Health), Jacquelyn French (Viacom), Marissa Grasso (HBO), Beth Harrison (Covetrus), Garibaldi Lavena (Tiffany & Co.), Matthew Purpura (Tito’s Handmade Vodka), Jeff Schick, Kristen Signorile (UBS), and Bill Skubovius (Petplan) for their contributions in making the evening such a success.

The Gala supports our ever-expanding, no-kill mission with all proceeds dedicated to the recently opened Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center located on our Port Washington, NY campus.  This state-of-the-art, second floor addition to the existing shelter features a cage-free, natural living environment for felines. Now we’ll be able to rescue many more lives and provide the best quality of life for all the animals in our care who are awaiting adoption into loving, responsible homes.