ARC hosts annual Casino Night fundraiser
It was a night where the real big winners were our four-legged friends.
Animal lovers donned their evening best for one of the most glamorous nights of the year in Southwest Florida as the Animal Refuge Center hosted its 14th annual Casino Royale 007 fundraiser on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa.
This fun-stakes, James Bond-themed evening blended the thrill of the casino floor with a powerful, life-saving mission which serves as ARC’s second biggest fundraiser of the year behind the Starlight Auction.
Rob Spicker, ARC vice president, said the event brings in a slightly younger crowd than the Starlight Auction, but is a whole lot of fun and raises a lot of money.
“This is a more active crowd with an evening of table games and you can try your luck with play money,” Spicker said. “You’re always looking for a way to engage your donors, give them a fun night and remind them why sponsoring ARC is so important.”
The event featured a buffet dinner, a live auction featuring jewelry and exclusive vacation packages, great raffle prizes and, of course, gambling on roulette, blackjack and craps.
Those who paid for the $75 tickets got $2,000 in play money, with additional play chips available for purchase. The more play money won, the better the chance of winning some of the many raffle prizes.
Several came wearing tuxes as music such as “Secret Agent Man” played, and many women donned evening dresses. But the big stars were the canines who live at ARC that came on site to remind the guests whose lives they were transforming.
Nikki Dixon of Cape Coral came to try her luck at roulette, with the women in charge of it teaching her the way around the game.
“I came from Preferred Care at Home and this is an amazing cause. I love animals, and my daughter has two dogs,” Dixon said. “My gambling has been mediocre, but ARC does so much to help the animals because so many are uncared for.”
Joe and Wendy Wakem enjoyed success at the craps table. They have been supporting ARC for more than 30 years.
“Betty Hughes and I worked together for many years and there’s no way I wouldn’t support her or the event,” Joe said. “ARC has some of the best people in the world who are the most caring for animals. No one treats animals the way they do.”
Keith Ricciardi was showing Rex, a galgos from Spain that resembles a greyhound. Those dogs are typically killed when they outlive their usefulness. ARC brought three such dogs here to find forever homes for them. Two have been adopted.
“If we find a home for Rex, great. If not, maybe we can find a substitute,” Ricciardi said. “That’s what’s great about ARC. We never put an animal down. I couldn’t be a part of anything else.”
The event was expected to raise as much as $40,000 for the shelter.
As a true no-kill shelter, ARC operates on a firm philosophy: once an animal is accepted, it is safe for life and will never be euthanized to make room for another. Every dollar raised at the tables goes directly to medical care, food, and finding forever homes.
ACR is a 501c3 Non-Profit animal welfare organization based in North Fort Myers. It is the largest no-kill shelter/sanctuary in Southwest Florida and places about 500 cats and dogs each year through direct and indirect adoptions.
Donations are always welcome. Visit animalrefugecenter.com/donate for more information on donations; animalrefugecenter.com/become-a-volunteer for more information on how to volunteer.