FOAS is 20 years old!

On September 28, Friends of Oakland Animal Services (FOAS) celebrated 20 years of saving animals with a party attended by over 150 guests and supporters. The event was hosted at the Lake Chalet overlooking Lake Merritt and featured a silent auction that included vacation stays in Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Costa Rica, and Bear Valley in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Other popular items came from Oakland United Beerworks, who donated the opportunity for a donor to feature their dog on a beer label; and the FOAS transport van wrap in which bidders competed for the chance to have their animal immortalized on the FOAS vehicle.

Guests were introduced to five remarkable women who made a lasting difference in the foundation and growth of FOAS: the three cofounders, Megan Webb, Willow Liroff, and Martha Cline; longtime FOAS steward and former board member Yvonne Tsang; and Ann Dunn, who led FOAS as Executive Director this year until her retirement last month. Read FOAS board president Trish’s speech here, which includes details of FOAS history.

Big Louie and Little Louie, two dogs whose lives were transformed by FOAS-funded programs, came to the event with their adopters. Their stories were shared by their adopters to illustrate the life-saving impact of FOAS. Havana, the adoptable 60-pound mastiff puppy, joined with her fosters to meet new people and to shine a light on how FOAS-funded programs like the foster program and dog playgroups have helped her on her journey.

The evening raised over $56K! FOAS would like to thank the following for their help in making the celebration the fabulous event that it was:

Adam Myatt AKA The Catman of West Oakland, who hosted and deejayed our event
Chloe Hughes, FOAS Board member who put in significant hours of her time finding the venue, planning the event, and securing our fabulous auction items
Volunteers Bethany Vernizzi, Dana Larkin, Debra Goldentyer, Holly Nishimura, Kristy Lai, and Leslie Hilford, who helped to make the evening run seamlessly with their incredible support and hands-on help during the event.
Pet Food Express, the lead sponsor for our celebration, and a vital partner in ensuring our animals don’t go hungry.
Thank you to Pip and his human, Tien Nguyen, who donated the FOAS transport van AKA “The Pip Mobile.”
Emily Songster, graphic design volunteer who designed all the print materials for the event, as well as the van wrap.
Thank you to Sarah Eichstedt, the photographer who is volunteering her time to take photos for the van wrap.
Thank you to all who donated items for the auction: Adeline Yoga, Afterguard Sailing, Alameda Massage, American Conservatory Theater, Andiron Inn, AnimalBiome, Arise Yoga, Arrangements by Abby, Arthur Mac’s, Atomic Garden, Au Natural, Bakesale Betty, Banana Yoga, Barkbox, Bay FC, Be Well, Bell and Iron, BFT, BK Fitness, Bohemia Skin and Body, Boichik Bagel, Bocanova, Brushstrokes, Buttercup, Cal Bears, Cato’s Ale House, Chaiyo Thai Massage, Charm Thai Bistro, Cheeseboard Collective, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, City Cruises, Claremont Hotel, Clay Clubhouse, Clay Kollectiv, Conscious Skincare, Corpo Kinetic, Crown Coffee, CruFit, Curbside Creamery, Curiodyssey, Discovery Kingdom, Donut Savant, East Bay Booksellers, East Bay Nursery, Eating with Edmund, Ezra Massage, Farley’s, Flax Art, Fournee Bakery, Frank and Lola, Funky Door Yoga, Glass Hand Studio, Hipline, Honor Barre, Humbowl, Innovative Dental, La Lou Lou, La Mediteranee, Las Guerreras, Making Waves Dance Studios, Millenium Restaurant, Malibu’s, Mariposa Bakery, Merritt Ceramics, Mighty Mighty, Monk’s Kettle, Mother Tongue, Navarro Winery, Nu Fitness, Oakland United Beerworks, Oakland Zoo, Oakland Ballers, Oakland’s Most Powerful, Oaktown Native Plant Nursery, Oaktown Spice Shop, Paradise Skate, Passione Pizza, Pennyroyal Farmstead, Pier 39, Pink Salt Wellness, Pizza Matador, Pizzeria Violetta, Point Reyes Cheese, Pole and Dance, Re-Up Refills, Reboot Rockridge, Rebrow’d by Hana, RIDE Oakland, Rose’s on Adeline, Rush Bowls, SF Ballet, SF Playhouse, SFMoma, Silvera Jewelry School, Six Flags, Souvenir Coffee, Starter Bakery, Subpar, Svastha Yoga, Tacos Oscar, Tallboy, Temescal Brewing, The Bar Method, The Claremont Hotel, The Massage Clinic, The Resilient Strength, Timeless Coffee, Title Boxing Club, Townhouse, Truve, Understory, Vetiver Spa, Vita oakland, Wax Suite, Westbrae Nursery, Yolin Studio, Z Cafe.