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The ‘Trunks of Love’ launch event for the nonprofit organization, Veterinarians International, on Sept. 21 at Tutto Il Giorno restaurant proved to be an overwhelming success with more than 200 guests in attendance.
Founded by Dr. Scarlett Magda, Veterinarians International (VI) is only a year old, and managed to raise $105,000 in fundraising and donations from the event, of the $200,000 needed to create its Veterinary Care Program and Mobile Elephant Clinic in Thailand. In addition to its work in Thailand, VI has also begun working with The Global Alliance for Animals and People (GAAP), in a joint operation of a Healthy Dog Program, to develop a ‘Humane Education & Disease Prevention of Dogs,’ program in Chile and Guatemala, to combat the spread of canine rabies.
VI is a network of medical professionals who use their veterinary experience to help animals globally. They team up with local groups to share skills and expertise to help provide animal health training programs, food production, nutrition and disease control for community members to improve their own living conditions, so that both animals and humans could both benefit.
“Animals and humans are interconnected and VI promotes animal health in order to preserve the well-being of all species,” Dr. Magda said in a press release from the event.
The event kicked off with a VIP cocktail reception hosted by Cat Greenleaf and VI Founder and President, Dr. Madga. In addition, an elephant charm designed by jewelry designer Helen Ficalora and a clothing line titled, Éléphant, designed by celebrity photographer Leslie Hassler, were unveiled, with a portion of the sale proceeds each going directly to benefit VI’s work in Thailand, in and around, the Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES).
Event Chair Cornelia Guest opened the main program, which included an awards ceremony honoring hotelier Gerald Barad and philanthropist Andy Sabin. A short video by Dominic Musacchio focusing on the BLES sanctuary was screened, and a ‘Fund-a-Need,’ auction, where guests bid on such items as ‘covering the cost of an elephant’s annual medical care,’ took place.
The Event’s Benefit Committee included some notable names, including Ed Burns, Jackie Cittone Magid, Evelyn Connor, Robert Dankner & Maude Davis, Dr. Jennifer Faga, Bobby Flay, Katie Lee, Leslie Hassler, Laura Killeen and Maurizio Marfoglia.
Learn more about Veterinarians International at their website.
To check out photos from the event, take a look at our slideshow below:
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Photos by Fabrizio Duque
-by Jackie Hart