Today Humane Indiana announced that it is canceling its 17th Annual GALA which was to take place Saturday, March 28th at The Avalon in Merrillville, IN, due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
The move was determined by the organization’s executive board members for the safety of its supporters, guests, and staff members. Humane Indiana CEO Brian Fitzpatrick issued a statement regarding the cancelation (see attached statement). “We did what we thought was best for the safety of everyone,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a tough decision in terms of the huge impact this particular fundraiser creates for our mission, but the safety and well-being of everyone comes first,” he added.
The not-for-profit’s Hollywood Pets-themed fundraiser to benefit Humane Indiana shelter pets and help rehabilitate wildlife at its Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was nearly sold out at 600 guests at the time of the cancelation. Humane Indiana reached out to its sponsors and guests to inform them of the cancelation and some have opted to still donate back to the organization. “Their contributions directly impact the animals we help, in addition to the pet owners who utilize our services for provisions to keep their beloved pets. We are extremely grateful for their continued support,” the CEO added.
Several silent auction donations were made for the event from local businesses. Humane Indiana is working through options to still host a silent auction in some capacity. Details will be announced within the coming days on the website HUMANEINDIANA.ORG. The organization is asking for ticket buyers to email gala@humaneindiana.org.
For more information regarding the GALA cancelation or Humane Indiana visit HUMANEINDIANA.ORG or call 219.513.8911.
To learn more about Humane Indiana visit HUMANEINDIANA.ORG or call 219.513.8911.
Humane Indiana is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.