The Cabin for CASA - And a Great Video Showcasing What CASA Does

A few weeks ago I was invited to the premiere of Blueforest Studio's inaugural "Blueforest Gives Back" non-profit video project. It was the first time I've heard about the great work CASA is doing in the Triangle, so I'm excited to share today both the video and an upcoming fundraiser event the organization is hosting that looks fun and won't break the bank for donors!

Watch the video here:

(Click here to view if you have trouble with the embedded player above.)



So, about that fundraiser they're hosting in September:

Join us for The Cabin for CASA 2.0, a Lynn Robertson DeMent Memorial Fundraiser! 

Thursday, September 17, 6:30-9:00 p.m. home of Rusty and Nella DeMent – 717 North First Ave., Knightdale, NC 27545 

Tickets: $40 each, or $75 for two 

Music and Libations Dinner by 42nd St. Oyster Bar Raffle and Silent Auction Included 

All proceeds to benefit CASA’s mission to develop and manage affordable housing, particularly for veterans and people living with disabilities. In 2014, the first annual Cabin for CASA raised over $30,000 to support CASA’s mission. Mark your calendars to join us this year!

Click here to buy tickets, support the sponsors of this event, and more at CASA's website.

Do This Next Weekend: Stamp Out Hunger

I'm pretty passionate about this topic because I personally feel that food insecurity and hunger are the most embarrassing issues facing North Carolina right now. We aren't lacking food. (Thanks, farmers!) We aren't lacking the money, resources, and science to solve this problem. (Like cancer, etc.) This is a fixable issue facing hundreds of thousands of NC families, children, seniors and individuals.

This is literally the easiest food drive you've ever participated in. Simply pick up some extra canned items when you grocery shop this weekend or next week and just leave the extras at your mailbox. So plan on joining in on Saturday, Nay 9 - no matter where you live!
How easy is it?
Pack a bag of food and set it by your mailbox on Saturday, May 9! Your local letter carrier will do the rest.
What should I give?
Check this list of most needed items and take it with you on your grocery shopping trip! (No glass, please.)
Where does my food go?
Although this is a national food drive, all donations made within our region come to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. Donated items are provided to the more than 651,000 children, families, and seniors in our 34 counties who are food insecure.

Band Together Main Event 2015

I love live music. I love a great cause. And I have an especially soft spot in my heart for this event because it's where I fatefully bumped into Johnnie Bud just three years ago and our first date was soon after. #BandTogetherLoveStory right here, y'all.

Needless to say, you'll be seeing me on Saturday, June 27, when Band Together's Main Event takes the stage in downtown Raleigh at Red Hat Amphitheater with Michael Franti & Spearhead.



I hope you'll join me in helping Band Together reach their lofty, but attainable, goal of raising $2,000,000 for Step Up Ministries, a non-profit dedicated to helping low-income homeless individuals in the Triangle area become self-sufficient.

SuperKids Capes

The MeFine Foundation is an NC non-profit that does a lot of good for children with serious illnesses. Check out how you can support this great program and their latest efforts below...

The Foundation has recently launched the SuperKids Cape program for children with critical illnesses. According to board member and all around good guy Richard Averitte, "The Me Fine Foundation wants to bring attention to these unbelievable little people and their superpowers by adorning them with garments fits for a superhero; so we provide them with SuperKids Capes."

Me Fine Cape in Action

The capes are hand-sewn by the Sewing Guild at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. They are customized capes that are awarded to a child after he/she undergoes a major procedure as part of their treatment, or upon discharge from the hospital. Me Fine is constantly in awe of the strength and determination of these kids, and the capes are a small way to recognize their inner superhero.

On Sunday, March 1st at the Oak City Comic Con Me Fine will have a table with information on the Foundation and the SuperKids Capes program. A donation of $20 will go to the purchase a cape for one of these brave children. In addition, the donor will have an opportunity to write a short message of encouragement on a MeFine card. Three cheers for Oak City Comic Con donating space during their inaugural event. On top of hosting an abundance of comic book professionals and the best local comic book stores and vendors from across the state, the Oak City Comic Con will be a great activity for family this weekend.

More details at http://www.mefinefoundation.org/events-posts/fine-takes-oak-city-comic-show-superkids-capes/. Be cool and share this Raleigh event with fellow cool people.

Paw-fect Valentine's Plans

Only rookies will celebrate Valentine's Day on a Saturday night - instead, consider something fun... and for a great cause - that's happening on Thursday night: Bark & Wine with Your Valentine 2015

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a beer & wine tasting while surrounded by the cutest faces in town! (Bringing a date is completely optional.)

Fine wines, beer, tasty treats and wet puppy kisses await guests at the 10th annual Bark & Wine with Your Valentine. 

This unique, intimate event will be held at the SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh on Thursday, February 12 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Sample 6-8 varieties of wine and and light fare to compliment the flavors for just $30.00 per person of which $5.00 is tax deductible.

Email Vanessa Budnick at vbudnick@spcawake.org or call 919-532-2087 with questions.

Purchase your tickets online at http://www.spcawake.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=113541.

Yoga + Wine... IN GARNER!

Yes, you read that wonderful combination right and I'm just as surprised as you are to find out it's only a few miles from my house.

I checked out a warm yoga class a few Saturday mornings ago at Zin Yoga Wine and I can't wait to get back in the studio soon. I hate to already be booked on Saturday and not making this great event, but it doesn't mean I can't share the details with you local readers...



Vino and Vinyasa Saturday, January 31st: 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Yoga with friends, wine and chocolate will sure to make a memorable night out. The night will start with a long gentle practice and end with a glass of wine, delicious tapas, and Togomay truffles and gluten-free cookies. This is the true experience of Zin Yoga Studio and Wine Lounge.

$35/person. Must Preregister by Thursday 29th.
www.zinyogawine.com (events tab to register)
zinyogawine@gmail.com
919-917-7500

Namaste, y'all. :-)

Raleigh Rotaract to Host Charity Beer Dinner

Raleigh people - I hope you'll join me for a great beer dinner on Thursday, Dec. 11!

The Rotaract Club of Raleigh has announced its inaugural Fall Charity Beer Dinner to take place on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., at Backyard Bistro restaurant in Raleigh, NC.

The event features five food courses, designed by Chef Joe Lumbrazo (executive chef and owner, Backyard Bistro), that are each complemented by beer pairings donated by Raleigh’s own Big Boss Brewing and Lonerider Brewing companies.

Raleigh is certainly no stranger to beer dinners, but the charity format is one not often seen. Of the $50.00 ticket price, nearly half of the money raised on ticket sales alone will go directly to this year’s designated charity: camper’s scholarships at Camp Mondamin in Zirconia, NC. This year’s beneficiary was selected in memory for local Rotarian Simon Everett, who died in an accident while working as a camp counselor at Mondamin this past summer. Everett donated his counselor salary to fund campers' scholarships each summer and Raleigh Rotaract plans to pay that commitment forward with the proceeds from this event.

In addition to ticket sales, silent auction items will be available for bidding on during the event, including food and beverage experiences, gift certificates to local businesses, and sporting event tickets - all great ways to beat the shopping lines at the mall this holiday season while supporting a great cause.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/raleigh-rotaract-2014-charity-beer-dinner-tickets-13465649119 or RaleighRotaract.org. Discounts are available for tables of four - so plan to attend with friends, because more is truly merrier at this event.

Sometimes the easiest way to help is by just showing up

My colleague Kathy (@Raleighwood) told me about this event earlier, but the thought of exercising for two hours was a little more than I was mentally prepared to commit to on that day. I must have been tired at the time, because when I read her post about tomorrow's event, I was totally re-energized to be a part. So I emailed my girls and was surprised to hear so many had friends and family affected by MS.

So, if you're so inclined to spend two hours and $10.00 to work out and help out, then email and call YOUR pals and join us tomorrow. Here's the scoop from Kathy's blog post:

"My favorite Zumba teacher, Giannina Scattolin, and her crew will be teaching a two-hour Zumba dance party on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Longbranch of Raleigh, 608 Creekside Dr., in Raleigh. The fun is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Eastern North Carolina chapter of the National MS Society. Kids under 12 get in free."

According to the National MS Society website, "multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another".

Hope to see you tomorrow for a little (ok: a lot) of Zumba!

Scotty Fever Hits the Triangle!

So excited for our hometown boy!

(And no, I'm not usually an American Idol nut, but Scotty deserves all the support he can get!)

Hey Raleighs, What Are You Doing Friday Night?

One of my gal pals (and fellow local nightlife/restaurant/retail rockstars), Christina G., was kind enough to invite me to Yelp.com's second annual Open Party, so I thought I'd keep the kindness going and share it with you all, as well!



This year's theme is Athletes vs. Mathletes (ummm LOVE it) and from what I hear, Yelp's local events take good time a whole new level. So as you might imagine, I'm very excited to check out my first event with this group of locals.


Date: Friday, May 6th
Time: Public Party Starts at 8pm
Venue: Crabtree Tavern

Nick and I went to Crabtree Tavern once during football season to check out their offerings. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't get a chance to blog about it, so I don't really remember much about the experience - except that I was still working when we got there and I was really impressed when the hostess was able to quickly seat us at a table with a power outlet so I could keep working with my laptop plugged in. I'm a sucker for great service! I'm sure I had a salad, and I would have remembered if it wasn't good, so I'm looking forward to getting back there on Friday and giving them another try. I'll make sure to post a review on Yelp after (which will sign up in my blog sidebar here now, too), so I won't go so long that I forget how it was!

Do you yelp? If so, here I am. Help me get past the "0" yelp friends icon, please?! :-)

PS - Fullsteam Brewery and LoneRider are part of the Friday night shenanigans. If you're a local beer drinker, that's likely what I should have started with - because that's all you needed to hear, right?

PS #2 - You know I love a good cause! Make a donation to Southern Siberian Rescue while you're there for a chance to win great door prizes and to collect great Yelp swag. (I can attest to the fine quality of their swag, btw.)

Cheers!

(And last, no blog post is complete without a disclaimer these days. I was not contacted by Yelp to blog about this. But, I do know Christina and she did personally invite me out. Personal invitations don't count as spiffs... at least I don't think. ;-))

All Star Shenigans!

"The fact the All-Star Game is awarded to the Hurricanes is a testament to the strength of this franchise and, above all, the enthusiasm and fantastic support that you 'Caniacs have shown your team. When the Canes are home, you make RBC Center one of the loudest places in sports." - Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner

Nick and I headed down to the FREE headline 3 Doors Down concert last night at the (still fairly new) Downtown Raleigh Amphitheater (that you'd think has finally gotten approval to be called the Bud Light Ampitheater due to all the Bud Light signage displayed) and it did not disappoint! 3 Doors Down has been my favorite rock band for years and their most-recent Raleigh show was canceled when the lead singer was sick. Seeing them for free? Yep, I braved the cold for that! We had a nice view from the lawn, but many thanks go out to Marcie, Ellen, and Andrew for inviting us to join them at the media box for an even closer view... directly behind all the crowd surfers ;-)

There is SO much happening for free on Fayetteville Street and for $8.00 in the Convention center still today as part of the NHL All Star Wide Open weekend, so if you're in Raleigh and haven't made it to Downtown yet for the All Star shenanigans, you should do yourself a favor and put on some comfy shoes and make your way down!

Nick and I are heading out shortly to check out today's action on Fayetteville Street and maybe even spend a few bucks to head inside the Convention Center. See ya there!

Breakfast with Santa for FIVE Great Causes!

Dr. Tinney Railey sent me an email this week asking me to help spread the word about this Saturday's fundraiser and how could I not with so many great organizations benefiting?

The Third Annual Charity Breakfast Buffet with Santa
Saturday - December 11, 2010, 8-11am
at Spice Street Restaurant in Chapel Hill

This event is organized by the resident physicians at UNC and this year we are supporting 5 charities: Ronald McDonald House, SECU Family House, NC Children's Hospital, NC Food Bank, and Toys for Tots. Last year we had a great event with over $1,000, 400 canned goods, and almost 500 toys donated. This year same great venue and price but we added an additional organization. We are also bringing awareness to Kayla’s Closet, an organization that provides formal dresses to ladies who could not otherwise afford them.

Kids can take pictures with Santa (skip the mall lines and prices), make ornaments, and enjoy face painting all while benefiting the community. Spice Street will make a monetary donation to be divided between the Ronald McDonald House, SECU Family House, and NC Children's Promise for every buffet purchased. We are asking people to bring canned goods or new toys. Adults $10 and kids $5 including tax and gratuity (cash, check and credit cards accepted)!

Happy holidays, y'all!

Make a Difference this Holiday Season

Seriously y'all, it takes very little effort to do good things. And hey, you might even get to attend a party and see some folks you love in the process!

Tonight - Thursday, December 2nd, 7:00pm (like head there in the next hour) ;-)
4th Annual Downtown Santa Ball
The Downtowner Magazine is proud to sponsor our Downtown Santa Ball on Thursday, December 2nd, from 7-10pm in order to help children in need and to provide what might be the only gift they receive this holiday season. We’re pleased to have MeetandCompete.com as a co-sponsor for our fourth year. 100% of proceeds and all gifts will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Wake County. The event will be held at the Union Tavern located in the Depot building of the Warehouse District (directions below). Just bring a gift and enjoy amazing Downtown Raleigh and free beer and wine. Support the Union by purchasing other spirits!

Thursday, December 9th, 6:30pm
Jingle Ball 2010
Get your holly on at this year's Jingle Ball... and be sure to get there early. Suz and I got there last year as the food was finished and the open bars dry. So we donated, mingled, and headed over to Landmark for a few drinks. Couldn't complain though, because I was stoked to see the turnout continue to increase for yet another year! I would say that was a mighty successful Thursday night!

Thru December 18th
Donate at ANY local Toys for Tots collection point... get the local details at http://raleigh-nc.toysfortots.org/ or find your own local Toys for Tots details (for all of you non-Raleigh folks) online at toysfortots.org!

All December
Need stocking stuffers or gifts? For just $13.95 you can get a terrific gift and help Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC with local service projects that benefit women and girls. Auto Bell Car Wash will donate 50% of each Full Service Car Wash coupon purchased. The coupons have NO expiration date and are honored at all 61 locations around the Triangle and the Southeast. To purchase, contact Joyce Rothchild at 919-518-1093 or by email at jrothchild@soroptimistraleigh.org.

Got more locally awesome ideas for me to share? Send 'em on and I'll list in a jiff! Email: ncsulilwolf@gmail.com.

Country for Kids Concert on Thursday Night!

Thursday night... be there! Only $25.00 - proceeds to visit this amazing place: http://www.ncchildrenshospital.org/

Buy tickets online at http://www.dpacnc.com/default.asp?dpac=19&objId=371.

Details:

Country for Kids concert at DPAC to benefit N.C. Children’s Hospital

Curtis Media Group announced the addition of a charity concert, dubbed ’Country for Kids,” to the ninth annual N.C. Children’s Promise Radiothon/Telethon with proceeds benefiting North Carolina Children’s Hospital.

Presented by 94.7 WQDR, Country for Kids will feature live performances from four artists, Rodney Atkins, James Otto, Clay Walker and North Carolina’s very own Jason Michael Carroll. The concert event will be the celebratory culminations of a day full of miraculous stories being broadcast live from the N.C. Children’s Hospital lobby on nearly 20 Curtis Media Group radio stations and Time Warner Cable’s News 14 Carolina as part of the N.C. Children’s Promise Radiothon/Telethon, UNC Health Care’s largest fundraising event each year.

PS: Jason Michael Carroll also has a new five song holiday album out from his very own label - Stray Records. Download it on iTunes today! (I can certainly approve the playing of his holiday music prior to Thanksgiving. ;-))

PS #2: Jason is the Grand Marshall at this year's Raleigh Christmas Parade taking place on Saturday. Get excited!

{Image: http://www.dpacnc.com/default.asp?dpac=19&objId=371}

What are You Doing for Lunch or Dinner Today??

The Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® Community Service Committee needs your help to raise money for our annual Project Angel Tree, where we purchase and donate Christmas presents for hundreds, sometimes thousands of children in Wake County's foster program. We are proud to partner with BOCCI ITALIAN TRATTORIA & PIZZERIA, MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL and TEXAS ROADHOUSE in order to raise funds to support this amazing cause!

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Simply visit this link, print the flyer and present it when you dine out at one of the participating restaurants on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7th -- that's TONIGHT! The restaurant will donate 10% of their food sales from October 7th to Project Angel Tree. For more information, click here or contact Priscilla Erwin at priscillae@rrar.com.

PS - Nick and I are going to Bocci because it's in Cary next to Swagger Gifts and I love Italian. Let me know if you want to join us!

Never Too Busy for a Little Brian Davis and Brantley Gilbert!

My pals at City Limits Saloon in Downtown Raleigh are having a FREE concert tonight (courtesy of Bud Light's One Night Stand... thank you Bud Light!) featuring Brantley Gilbert who I posted about earlier here. Who is opening for him? None other than our good buddy BRIAN DAVIS!

It's already shaping up to be a busy week, but who could turn this lineup down?

Not this girl!

Renee's already in for the Monday night fun. Who else wants to join?

PS - You can find Brantley on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BrantleyGilbertMusic and City Limits at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/The-Official-City-Limits-Saloon-Raleigh/105498752816348! (Don't forget BD at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Davis-Live/20712075596, either!)

So Many Options this Weekend

The only problem will be finding time for them all!

Retail, etc.

SmartMomma Grand Opening (in their new location!)
Saturday - 9/25 - 10:00am until 6:00pm
http://smartmomma.com/Locations-Raleigh-NC-sp-6.html
First 100 families to arrive are getting a nice free gift, which may or may not include a VERY nice discount from SmartMomma's neighbors at Fred's Beds. Just throwing that out there... ;-)

Downtown Designers Market (is back!)
Saturday - 9/25 - 9:00am until 3:00pm
http://www.designersdowntownmarket.com/
Jewelry, crafts, apparel, and other fab vendors in the Ornamentea parking lot!

The Green Chair Project Fall Furnishings Drive
Saturday - 9/25 - 9:00am until 1:00pm
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/greenscene/green-chair-project-holds-fall-furniture-drive
http://www.thegreenchair.org/
Got stuff? Donate it to keep it out of landfills - and help those who need it!

Festivals

Ray Price Capital City Bike Fest
Friday and Saturday - 9/24 and 9/25 - 10:00am until 10:00pm
http://CapitalCityBikeFest.com/
I don't personally "ride", but my family and LOTS of friends do... so I'm always game for going along for partaking in the sights, food, and fun.

Hillsborough Street Reopening
Saturday - 9/25 - 1:00pm until 10:00pm
http://hillsboroughstreet.org/event/
http://www.technicianonline.com/news/campus-buffer-to-get-proper-reopening-1.2337841
In true Raleigh fashion, let's close a street to traffic to celebrate it being re-opened to traffic. (It's what we do.)

Triangle Uncorked
Saturday - 9/25 - 2:00pm until 6:00pm
http://www.triangleuncorked.com/
Wine tasting event benefiting the Frankie Lemmon Foundation and Rotary!

What are YOU Doing on Saturday?

I have two great options for you fellow Raleigh kids!



1 - Raleigh Wide Open
Specifically, the 11:00am parade through Downtown... where you can see yours truly (and Nick will very likely get volunteered, too) volunteering with Shop Local Raleigh!

PS - Go see my buddy Mike for great prizes from Triangle.com, too!




2 - Second Chance Pet Adoptions' Auction for the Animals
This fun event taking place at 7:00pm features several ways to get in on the fundraising fun!

• Buy a ticket!
• Bid on over 150 silent auction items
• Bid on over 40 chance auction items
• Bid on over 10 live auction items
• Purchase raffle tickets for some cool items including:
• Disney World Park Hopper Passes
• Sightseeing Plane ride
• Tickets to Carowinds
• $100 Bailey's Fine Jewelry Gift Card
• Gift Certificate for a Pet Portraits
• 2 Air Tran Airline Tickets - anywhere in the US
• Doggie Daycare Gift Certificates
• Original Engraving from Clark Art
• NC Symphony and Ballet Tickets
• Private Dance Lessons
• Topsail Beach condo - 1 week
• And, much, much more...

Individual tickets are only $35.00 and open bar tickets are $125 for two!

Tickets include a wonderful selection of cold and hot hors d'oeuvres along with a fantastic dessert buffet. A selection of Pepsi products, along with water will be available. Wine and beer will be available on a cash basis.

Wines for Humanity will be doing wine tasting of select red and white wines during the evening. Wines for Humanity is an in-home wine tasting company dedicated to introducing the public to the joy of fine wines while raising funds for charity. Their wines are sourced from award-winning vineyards from all over the world.

Purchase your tickets online here!

See you there!

LOTS of First Friday Options - Even on a Holiday Weekend!

My twitter question today:

Ok Raleigh kids... what's on the agenda for #FirstFriday in #DowntownRaleigh? I'm making my list now!

Appropriate responses included:
@artspacenc - Artspace has it going on! We've got our Summer Artist in Residence here setting in Gallery 1- come on down!

@_huddy_ - Come on down to @Fragmentlabs and check out the jewelry on display from Jaclyn Anthony.

This girl right here! RT @FireflyVodka: Who is in the mood to celebrate family, friends, and summer?! #fireflyfriday #fourthoffirefly


Also on the list:

Music on the Porch at Seaboard Station
(This is where my gang is starting!)
Event opens at 6:00pm, band starts at 7:30pm – tonight featuring Peter Lamb and the Wolves.
Music on the Porch is a grassroots community event featuring free music every Friday night this spring, summer and fall.




First Friday Market… presented by IndieNC.com
The place to visit for LOTS of unique local finds tonight! Located at 131 S. Wilmington Street (in Downtown Raleigh), this once-a-month market features emerging designers, iced coffee, and live music from Mike Roy and Rob Watson this evening from 6:00pm until 10:00pm.


WKNC First Friday Dance Party at Jibarra
(You might be able to find me here for the tequila!)
10:30pm - 2:00am

WKNC is launching a series of Raleigh Afterhours dance parties at Jibarra starting on July 2.
These events are meant to showcase the Afterhours DJs and are free and open to the public for anyone 21+ and only $3 for those 18-20. All of the money collected at the door goes straight to WKNC.

You can find the Facebook event here.


Need to get around to all of these great events?
Park your car once and then hop on the R-Line -Raleigh’s free downtown circulator bus! Check out the mobile site and pick up the bus when it gets to a stop near you: www.yourhere.com/mobile.

Happy Birthday to the SPCA of Wake County!

If you've been thinking about adopting a critter, this would be the weekend to do it!

As I've written here before, I am a fan of the SPCA of Wake County (as well as the county adoption center and the many local organizations that pull from shelters regularly until an animal can be placed in a forever home). Our Delta dog came from the SPCA many years ago :-)

The SPCA Birthday Adopt-a-thon will run Saturday, June 12th from 11:00am-6:00pm, and Sunday, June 13th from 1:00pm-5:00pm.
The SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center
200 Petfinder Lane (just off S. Wilmington Street and Tryon Rd)
Raleigh, NC 27520

Some of the programs offered at the SPCA that I think are worth noting:

Check out the new SPCA Pit Crew! SO cute. Just look at those sweet faces!


The Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Animal Clinic: Preventing tomorrow's animal suffering today!
Learn more about this low-cost spay/neuter option that is saving thousands of our community's animals from euthanasia.


Keeping Families Together: Resources for pet owners in tough economic times:
* Pet Food Pantry Program
* AniMeals Program (for Homebound Seniors)
* Money Saving Tips for Pet Owners
* Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Services
Find out more about each of the above programs here!

So, who's ready to adopt or donate? :-) Many thanks to the Raleigh Downtowner for sharing this news: http://raleigh2.com/default.asp?smenu=1&sdetail=2428!

PS - You can also vote once per day through July 31st to help the SPCA try to win a $50,000 donation... how easy is that? http://petloversvote.com/

{Images: All images via the SPCA of Wake Co. website at http://www.SPCAWake.org}