January 8, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE # 2002-99119

SUBJECT: The City of Irvine Hosts "My Furry Valentine" Celebrity Luncheon and Auction to Benefit Homeless Pets, with Guest of Honor Elayne Boosler.

CONTACT: Eliza Rubenstein, Irvine Animal Care Center Coordinator (949) 724-7745
Heather Morris, Public Information Officer (949) 724-6252

IRVINE, CA - The Irvine Animal Care Center (IACC), recognized nationwide as one of the most progressive municipal shelters in the country, and the Irvine Pet Partnership (IPP) will host My Furry Valentine, a celebrity luncheon and silent auction to benefit rescued adoptable pets in the City of Irvine. The benefit will be held Sunday, February 9, 11 a.m., at the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport, located at 18800 MacArthur Blvd. in Irvine. Comedian/Animal Activist Elayne Boosler will be honored for her nationwide work in the rescue community.
The benefit will feature:

Three-course luncheon with no-host bar
Silent auction featuring donated items

Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased by contacting IACC Program Coordinator Eliza Rubenstein at (949) 724-7745, or the IACC front office at (949) 724-7741, or visit the Center's website at http://www.cityofirvine.org/depts/cs/animalcare/default.asp for more information.

All proceeds from the event benefit the IACC's "Third Chance Program," which rescues adoptable pets from overcrowded local shelters and gives them a "third chance" at adoption in Irvine. Since its inception in April 2000, the program has saved the lives of more than 2,000 precious animals.
The IACC houses more than 3,000 pets every year, offering them the finest in medical, behavioral, and emotional care. Center staff and volunteers work hard to find homes for the adoptable pets, and never euthanize an animal simply because "its time ran out."
The Irvine Pet Partnership (IPP) is the non-profit fundraising branch of the Irvine Animal Care Center. All contributions to the IPP directly benefit Irvine's animals in need.

Elayne Boosler is one of the busiest and most popular comedians touring the country today. She has completed seven cable specials and appears regularly on late night television. Through her non-profit organization, Tails of Joy (www.tailsofjoy.net), Elayne has raised funds this year to benefit over forty rescues as she toured nationwide. She has also been an effective advocate in cruelty cases, and recently cancelled an engagement when she learned that the greyhound racing industry would be attending (read all about it at (http://www.HSUS.org)

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