If you love to laugh and you also love animals, Hope's Chest has an event planned for Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, that you will not want to miss.
The non-profit's fourth annual "Raise The Woof" comedy show and dinner will take place at The Spinning Leaf (formerly Owl's Eye Winery) in Shelby.
"I think people will really enjoy The Spinning Leaf's wonderful ambience indoors and beautiful mountain views outdoors," says Dr. Deanna Moseley Lawrence, founder of Hope's Chest. "The Dutch Broad will be catering heavy hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar will be available. All of our guests can mingle, enjoy the food and drink, and bid on silent auction items before settling in for the main event--the comedy show. As always, the evening will directly benefit animals referred to Hope's Chest for specialized care by the Cleveland County Animal Control."
The doors will open at 6 p.m., when the silent auction will begin and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. The comedy show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and end around
9:30 p.m. The silent auction checkout will be held at that time.
"I think fundraising should be fun, and with 'Raise The Woof' we go beyond fun," says Lawrence. "It is a night filled with fellowship, great food, silent auction items that rock and, of course, laughter - enough to make your sides hurt!"
Founded in 2012, Hope's Chest is a non-profit organization based in Cleveland County with a mission of providing veterinary medical care to sick, injured, abused and homeless animals referred by the Cleveland County Animal Control (CCAC) shelter. Since its beginnings more than six years ago, Hope's Chest has helped more than 1,000 injured or abused pets from CCAC with medications, surgeries and other life-saving treatments. Hope's Chest hospitalizes and treats the most serious cases, and then when the animal is ready medically and socially, Dr. Lawrence and the volunteers work to place the animal in a loving "forever home."
Created by comedian and producer James Uloth, Raise The Woof is a stand-up comedy event that assists animal shelters and rescue groups with fundraising efforts. Raise The Woof's goal is "to create a sustainable annual event that can become a steady revenue stream" for each of the groups it works with.
The comedians for this year's Cleveland County Raise The Woof are Sid Davis and Gali Kroup.
Davis is a former airline worker whose humor is "fueled with A.D.D., a wavering ego and a grade-school teacher wife who views him as a child left behind." In 2012, 2013 and 2014 he was voted "Best in Fest" by the audiences at the San Luis Obispo Comedy Festival. In 2014 comedy icon Joan Rivers discovered Sid while she was seeking a new opening act. After viewing hundreds of comedy videos, she watched 20 seconds of Sid Davis and declared, "Get him! He's absolutely terrific!"
Originally from Israel, Gali Kroup's original, intelligent, sophisticated, quick-witted and clean style of humor has made her an up-and-coming star and one of the busiest comedians performing internationally today. A former Lieutenant in the Israeli Air Force, Kroup has opened for names such as Damon Wayans, Whitney Cummings, Matt Kirshen, Kira Soltanovich, Chris Delia and many more. Kroup is fluent in English, Hebrew and a "bissel" of Russian.
Also appearing this year as guest master of ceremonies is Sarah Lee from the Paul Schadt and Sarah Lee show on WKKT 96.9 "The Kat" radio in Charlotte. "The Breaking Away Band" will also perform prior to the comedy show.
Raise The Woof tickets are available at Hope Animal Hospital, 1042 Sam Lattimore Rd., Shelby, and online at www.eventbrite.com. Search for "Raise the Woof" to buy and print tickets.
To learn more about Hope's Chest, visit www.hopeschestinc.org or search for "Hope's Chest" on Facebook. For more information on Raise the Woof or to volunteer for Hope's Chest, call 704-297- 5123.

By April Hoyle-Shauf, Special to Community First Media