Past Events
2016
“Earth Day Celebration”, Carolina International School
We were honored to be invited back for a second year to this wonderful educational event for the kids. I get to teach them how they can recycle for their local shelters/rescues!
2015
Southern Women’s Show Charlotte & the 4th Annual Fido Fashion Show
Our biggest fundraising and highest profile event of the year! We were most thankful to have our friends,
human & canine, join us to “Bring the Bling” on the Fashion Stage at SWS. We are very thankful that SWS allows us to sell their shopping bags in return for a portion of the proceeds to benefit my foundation.
Dog Day’s of Summer Fest, Barks Bones & Biscuits Bakery (Mint Hill NC)
The owners of Barks Bones & Biscuits Bakery have been supporters of FMFF since our first meeting few at Southern Women’s Show a years ago. They also do a lot to support other parts of their local community. Last year, we were honored to be at their first ever Pawz Party and this year they’ve decided to do it again…but bigger & better…and to benefit US! There were many vendors, Agility Dog demonstrations, a silent auction of some really cool items (including an autographed puck from a Charlotte Checkers star!) as well as a food drive for FMFF.
“Earth Day Celebration,” Carolina International School
This was the 2nd year for this event and our first year in attendance. FMFF was invited as one of our core activities is to RECYCLE gently-used, pet-related goods for use at rural animal shelters in the Carolinas. We were happy to educate parents and students on how they can be kind to the Earth and their local Animal Shelter residents at the same time! We were also happy to throw in a little Pet Safety Education and Deaf Dog Education for the kids, too. Some of the CIS parents even brought bags of Pet Food for us to take to rural shelters!
“Union County Heritage Festival,” Union County Master Gardeners’ Association, Union County Agricultural Center
Our second year at this event that stresses RECYCLING and being kind to the Earth. Last year this event was “Down to Earth Day” but UCMGA partnered with an Antique Tractor Club to make the event even bigger. They allowed us to have a donation bin at the entry point!
“Love the Animals” Night, Antioch Elementary School
As we feel that educating children/families in Child-Pet Safety is one way to keep pets out of animal shelters, we were more than happy to return for a 2nd year to this wonderful
event! The Parent’s Association later surprised us with a donation check.
Family Care Fair, Novant Huntersville Medical Center
This was our 2nd year at this great event. Educating children on Pet Safety is so important! We were happy to share our and DINOS: Dogs In Need Of Space’s literature at this family-friendly event
2014
February
Bark, Bones & Biscuits Bakery Grand Opening, Mint Hill NC:
We had met Robyn Kline, owner of Barks, Bones & Biscuits Bakery, at several events in the past and our pack very much enjoys BBBB treats! We were excited to be asked to be part of their Grand Opening. We were even more thrilled when Ms Kline asked if the Grand Opening could also serve as a supply drive for FMFF! Also, we are happy to announce that BBBB is a location of one of our FMFF Donation Barrels so you can drop off donations right in Mint Hill. Please support your local small business and stop by Barks, Bones & Biscuits Bakery!
April
Master Gardeners of Union County “Down to Earth” Day 2014 Monroe NC:
As recycling gently-used goods for use at rural Carolinas animal shelters is one of our major purposes, we were very excited to be invited to this event! In addition to making many people aware of us, we received around 30 pounds of dry dog/cat food as well as several cans. Additional donations included collars/leashes, carriers and water dispensers. McGrady was able to educate kids on his deafness and show how smart he is by demonstrating his numerous tricks.
“Rescue Around the World” Day, Myers Park High School, Charlotte NC:
Having seen an article about our Foundation in the Charlotte Observer, one of the teachers at Myers Park High School contacted us about participating in this wonderful event. We were very pleased to have the opportunity to educate students about the fabulousness of deaf animals and show them how they can recycle pet-related items for use at rural animal shelters.
“Love the Animals” Event, Antioch Elementary School, Matthews NC:

The “Passport” given to the kids to have stamped by the groups located outside. Their athletic teams are the “Gators”.
We were very excited to be part of this 1st Annual event! There were many groups participating, many housed in the large gym but others outside. To insure that the outside booths were visited, the faculty set up a “Passport” and students had to get their passport stamped by all 4 groups located outside. If they did that, they received a prize. We were happy to educate the enthusiastic kids about the capabilities of deaf animals and also tell their parents how they could recycle gently-used pet-related items they found during their Spring Cleaning. The school’s athletic teams are the “Gators” and the front of the passport is pictured on the R.
May 2014
Barks, Bones & Biscuits’ “Pawz Party”:
We would like to thank Barks, Bones & Biscuits for inviting us to their 1st Annual “Pawz Party”. They asked vendors and the public to bring food and other donations that we later took to Anson County Animal Shelter.
Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center “Family Fun Day”:
We were honored to be included in this event which focuses on safety! With the help of the awesome website/resource, “Dogs in Need of Space (DINOS)”and references from other sources, we put together a packet that educated parents on how to keep their children safe around dogs. We found the attendees VERY appreciative and receptive to this type of information. Sydney represented FMFF at this event and had a great time teaching children how to approach/pet a strange dog. WAGS: Wait Ask, (Be) Gentle, (Go) Slow!
September 2014
Southern Women’s Show Charlotte
We were honored to host the 3rd annual “Fabulous Fido Fashion Show” as well as raise money for our foundation via selling Southern Women’s Show shopping bags (we received a portion of the proceeds of sales). We were able to tell many people about our mission and make many new & valuable connections within the community! We also raised a grand total of $800.00!
2013
April & October 2013
Black Dog Walk and Awareness Day, Piper Glen Shopping Center (Charlotte NC/April 2013) & Squirrel Lake Park (Matthews NC/October 2013):

McGrady with the food collected at the April 2013 BDWAD event. This food would later go to Montgomery County (NC) Animal Control
FMFF was honored to be part of the inaugural Black Dog Walk and Awareness Event. We used this event to raise awareness of some of black dogs in shelters as we’ve helped many get to safety as part of Friends of Ashe County Animals (a part of FMFF). We also used this as an opportunity to collect food for a then forthcoming trip to Montgomery County (NC) Animal Control (see Past Events/Rural Shelters section of this website).
We look forward to being a part of this event in 2014 as well!
September 2013
Southern Women’s Show, Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte NC:
2013 marked the second year that FMFF was given the chance to sell SWS shopping bags as well as to do the Fido Fashion Show! FMFF received $1 for each bag sold and it was a FABULOUS year! Southern Women’s Show is our biggest fundraiser of the year. This opportunity enables us to provide much more food and goods to shelters in need. We were also delighted to share some of our fantastic friends & furiends with attendees at Sunday’s Fabulous Fido Fashion Show! Thank you to all the volunteers and fashion models who helped make this happen!
June 2013
Charlotte Pride’s First Annual “Canine Couture” Event
FMFF happily accepted the opportunity to have an informational booth at the 1st ever “Canine Couture” event, a fundraiser for Charlotte Pride.
2012
September 2012
Southern Women’s Show, The Park, Charlotte NC:
The Southern Women’s Show was FMFF’s debut event and still serves as our biggest fundraiser of the year! We are honored to be a part of this fine event. In 2012 we were given the opportunity to sell SWS shopping bags with $1 from each bag sold going to FMFF. In addition, we had an informational booth at which we were excited to be joined by our friend Bethany Salisbury of Pet Portraits by Bethany (see our “Supporters” page!).
2012 also marked the first Fabulous Fido Fashion Show, both SAT & SUN of the Show! FMFF was honored to have several talented and gorgeous dogs, who all serve their community in their own special ways (many as Therapy or Reading Dogs) to join us on the runway and make this event a great success!