Our 22nd anniversary celebration on Sunday, February 11, was another lively fiesta. At least 150 people turned out for our major fundraising event of the year at La Casa Grande in San Javier—despite competition from the Super Bowl. Altogether the fiesta raised $229,659 mxn (USD $13,447), 28.3 percent of our projected costs this year. The funds will support our pet sterilization and public education activities.
There were lots of good reasons for attending. Besides the delicious botanas prepared by a team of volunteers under the guidance of Susan Pataky, guests enjoyed cookies and cupcakes baked by another army of volunteers recruited by Margo Buschek, plus plentiful drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) at tables decorated by Sue Meyers and Joslyn Lewis to celebrate Valentine’s Day. DJ Humberto Hassim Bernal provided the music, which people danced to toward the end of the party.
Our silent auction netted $113,408 pesos (US $6,640). The prizes consisted of gourmet meals prepared by Guanajuato residents, health and beauty treatments, artworks and handicrafts, local and foreign tours, jewelry, lessons of various kinds, private concerts, and lodging at beautiful homes and hotels. One of our most intriguing prizes consisted of a cocktail dress and ivory necklace once owned by the beautiful German-born actress Ursula Thiess and a pair of French cufflinks owned by her American movie star husband Robert Taylor.
Ten attractive raffle prizes ranged from meals at local restaurants to a basket of toys for dogs.
Guests shopped at Suzy Thompson’s tienda on the ground floor, at Terry Rasmussen’s Tiny Tiendita of specialty gift items upstairs, and at Carolyn Napoli’s and Liz Mapelli’s table of gorgeous designer earrings. Suzy, Rosemarie Conde, and their small army of volunteers outdid themselves, taking in $22,210 pesos at their store. Terry raised $8000 pesos at her Tiny Tiendita, and Carolyn contributed $6200 pesos from the sale of her jewelry.
David Spencer, our bilingual MC, made everyone feel welcome and kept us informed as each activity of the party unfolded. During his breaks, David schmoozed with the guests and had his photo taken with Joslyn Lewis at our “photo booth.”
Before the silent auction closed, Tom Reavley, Amigos president, briefly summarized our accomplishments over the past year, mentioning that we had sterilized 1,448 animals in 2022 and more than 24,000 sterilizations since our founding in 2002. He expressed our appreciation to various people who had made 2023 a success.
Tom asked our sterilization campaign volunteers who were present to stand and receive the guests’ applause. He called Julia Salido forward to thank her for her tireless work as our campaign manager and her frequent contributions to our education program. He next invited our board members, the fiesta’s planning committee, and all the volunteers who had contributed to the fiesta to stand and be recognized.
Then Tom honored two outstanding volunteers. To Antonia (Tony) López Palacios, our education specialist, he presented an award naming her Amigos Volunteer of the Year for launching our program to teach children compassion toward animals and giving by-monthly interviews about pet care on Channel 8’s morning program.
To Susan Pataky he presented our annual Founder’s Award for her dedication and generosity to Amigos. Susan raised funds for our Christmas Market and our fiesta by using the proceeds of gourmet food items she regularly sells to buy ingredients for the Christmas foods and the fiesta botanas, whose preparation she organized. She and her husband, Endre, also raised funds for Amigos with a raffle held at their wedding anniversary last year.
Finally, Tom expressed our thanks to Casa Grande’s owner, Ricardo Herbert, and his helpful staff, the donors who contributed generously to the auction and raffle, the people who attended the fiesta, and the Guanajuato community for its support of our work.
Our board is already turning its attention to the year ahead. As everyone knows, fundraising is a huge challenge, especially for small nonprofits with limited resources. We welcome your comments on the fiesta—what you especially liked, what could be improved. We also invite your suggestions for innovative approaches to increasing the Guanajuato community’s support for our work.
More photos and a list of donors and fiesta volunteers appear below.
Donors
Use of La Casa Grande: Its owner, Ricardo Herbert, and staff members Isa and Perla
Auction prizes: Alfarería Tradicional Gorky González, Amatxi Cocina Auténica, Guermina Amézquita, Hugo Anaya, Wayne and Jieb Barnes, Martine Bilodeau, Lori Bierbrier and Thomas Newberger, Bostom Speakeasy (owned by Ruben Larrazolo, Rodrigo Gonzalez, and Adriana Barba), Geoff Brown and Soledad Torres, Aaron Burgess, Margo Buschek, Casa de Colores, Casa de Estela y Virgilio, Casa Encantada, Casa Manx, Casa Museo Gene Byron, Casa Valadez Anfitrión & Gourmet, Cerámica Capelo, Saúl Cervantes, Dena Chen and Kjetil Hovda, John Collins, Corazón de Plata, John Denissen and Steve Murdock, Jacquie Elliott, Jack and Jacquie Elliott, Escuela Falcón, Jeniffer Jazminne Espinoza, Barry Evans and Louisa Rogers, Genie Fuller, Jolene Gailey, Gabriela García, Claudia García Ruvalcaba, Julián Gaxiola, Caterina Gielis, Hotel Villa María Cristina, Nina Johnson, Don and Arlene Lang, Joslyn Lewis, María de Jesús Madera Cabral, Ron Mann and Sandra Ward, Miko Mosher, Susan and Endre Pataky, Marion Pritchard, Masajes La Presa, Passion Estética y Spa, Salazar Estudio de Belleza, Tom Reavley, Tom Reavley and Guille Amézquita, Louisa Rogers, Gilberto Salazar, Julia Salido, Thomas Settel, Michael Severens and Cuauhtemoc Trejo, Carolina Solis of Perfect Skin, Jim Sullivan, Manuel Thiess, Juan Jesús Vargas, Sandra Ward
Raffle prizes: Borikén Bar, Robin Bram, Caesar’s Terraza de Marfil, Clínica Veterinaria Can-Cat, Los Huacales Restaurant, Ingrato Café, La Jaula Restaurant, Los Calandrios Restaurant, Portofino Ristorante, Puscua Restaurant, Sabor y Arte Restaurant, Salgadeira Charcutería y Quesería, Sushi Balls y Tokyo Garde
Suzy’s Tienda: Too many to list by name!
Volunteers
Planning committee: John Denissen, coordinator; Rosemarie Conde, Suzy Thompson, Sandra Ward
Preparation of botanas: Susan Pataky, coordinator; Julie Boyles, Mary Beth Canavan, Siwsan Gimprich, Celise Ingram, Joslyn Lewis, Vivan Little, Beth Lozano, Sue Meyers, Joyce Neikirk, Fawn Potash, Brenda Rodríguez, Milo Smart, Maureen Steltman, Thomas Stess
Preparation of desserts: Margo Buschek, coordinator; Sue Clancy, Jack and Jacquie Elliott, Alison Hall, Arlene Lang, Beth Lozano, Liz Mapelli, Carolyn Napoli, Manuela Thiess, Suzy Thompson, Sandra Ward
Food servers: Fawn Potash, coordinator; Mario Arellano Carranza, Ángeles Leyva, Milo Smart, Luciano Torres, Juan Jesús Vargas
Bartenders and scrip sellers: Terry Woodruff, coordinator; Mario Arellano Carranza, Azlyn Lawless, Luciano Torres
Silent auction: John Denissen and Sandra Ward, coordinators; Martine Bilodeau, Robin Bram, Jann Lee, Joslyn Lewis, Gilberto Salazar, Mary Sausen, Anna Sbragia, Juan Jesús Vargas, Lisa Wolter
Raffle: Joslyn Lewis, coordinator; Ron Mann, Suzy Thompson, Sandra Ward, Lisa Wolter
Suzy’s Bargain Store: Suzy Thompson, coordinator; Julie Boyles, Mary Beth Canavan, Rosemarie Conde, Beth Lozano, Sue Meyers, Maureen Neely
Terri’s Tiny Tiendita: Terry Rasmussen, owner; Dyan Amirault, Arlene and Don Lang, Charles Rasmussen, Terry Woodruff
Handmade designer jewelry: Liz Mapelli, Carolyn Napoli
Publicity: John Denissen, Joslyn Lewis, Tony López, Julia Salido, Sandra Ward
Decorations, signage, photos: Joslyn Lewis, coordinator; Robin Bram, Beth Lozano, Sue Meyers, Maureen Neely
Tickets and ticket sales: John Denissen, coordinator; Robin Bram, Liz Carranza, Rosemarie Conde, Debra Davidson-Mladek, David Hester, Joslyn Lewis, Ángeles Leyva, Vero Mares, Andreas Mladek,
Tom Reavley, Gilberto Salazar, Julia Salido, Jim Sullivan, Suzy Thompson, Juan Jesús Vargas, Sandra Ward
Cashiers: John Denissen and Joslyn Lewis, coordinators; Robin Bram, Jann Lee, Carolyn Napoli, Terri Rasmussen, Mary Sausen, Suzy Thompson, Lisa Wolter, Terry Woodruff
Speakers: David Spencer (Master of Ceremonies), Tom Reavley (Amigos president)
Music: Humberto Hassim Bernal
Setup and breakdown: Ron Anderson, Mario Arrellano Carranza, Robin Bram, Rosemarie Conde, John Denissen, David Hester, Maureen Neely, Susan Pataky, Charles Rasmussen, Mary Sausen, Tom Reavley, Bob and Suzy Thompson, Luciano Torres, Juan Jesús Vargas, Sandra Ward, Lisa Wolter, Maureen Woodruff