Arc of Katy Achieve with Us Gala moved to Jan. 13, 2023

The Arc of Katy board of directors said that The Arc of Katy Achieve with Us Gala, originally planned to take place on Sept. 23, has been rescheduled to Jan. 13, 2023.

The time, from 6:30-11 p.m., and the location, Beckendorff Farms, 28533 Morton Road, remain the same.

The gala is an annual benefit with dinner and entertainment will raise funds for day programs and other resources for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families residing in the tri-county Katy area.

Roderick Batson, of Howdy Homemade Ice Cream in Katy, will be the guest speaker.

Honorees include Marie Tsakiris, 2022 Ann Davis Founders Award recipient, and Judy Colabella and Walt Palen, volunteers of the year.

To register to sponsor, underwrite, donate to the auction or attend, visit the website events.readysetauction.com/arckaty/2022gala. For more information on the gala, email gala@thearcofkaty.org.

For more information on The Arc of Katy programs, including volunteer and donor opportunities, visit the website thearcofkaty.org.

Special Pals partnering with Best Friends Animal Society for National Adoption Weekend

Special Pals Rescue Resource Center and Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization, are teaming up for another adoption campaign to encourage people to choose to adopt, not buy, their next pet.

During this adoption weekend event, Special Pals will waive adoption fees on all dogs older than 5 months and larger than 50 pounds. “Big dogs stay in shelters longer than the average adoptable dog, and our hope is to encourage the community to adopt these loving, larger pals,” Becky French, Special Pals executive director, said.

Special Pals is open for adoptions daily from 12-4 p.m. including during the National Adoption Event. All adoptable pets are ready to go home with up-to-date vaccinations, and they have been spayed or neutered, microchipped, and treated with one month of heartworm and flea prevention medication.

Recent data released by Best Friends showed that U.S. shelters were seeing an increase in animal intakes and a decrease in pet adoptions from shelters. This has steadily turned into a crisis in the animal welfare community, where many shelters like Special Pals are over capacity.

Anyone considering adding a new pet to their family can make a difference by choosing to adopt instead of purchasing their pet.

“There is a growing shelter crisis across the country and the animal welfare community won’t just sit by and let innocent pets die,” Julie Castle, Best Friends Animal Society CEO, said. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We’re joining forces with our vast network of shelters and rescues across the country to host our third National Adoption Weekend since May to incentivize people to get out and adopt.”

Due to recent problems such as staffing shortages, limited shelter hours, decreased volunteers, and reduced adoption events, the time is now to help save lives by adopting a pet.

“We have proof that national promotions like the first two adoption weekends we did in May and July work,” Castle said. “Our July National Adoption Weekend saw close to 10,000 animals adopted in a three-day period.”

That’s why Special Pals is compelled to be a part of the upcoming National Adoption Weekend. “As a limited-intake shelter, we can only accept as many dogs and cats as our space and resources will allow,” French said. “We are doing our best for the dogs and cats in our care, and with more adoptions, we can say ‘yes’ to the requests we receive.”

Those who can’t adopt can consider fostering dogs and cats with Special Pals. Support, medical care, and daily supplies are all provided by the shelter team, and fostering animals makes room to help even more.

For more information, visit the website at specialpals.org.

Special Pals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 1979 and is the oldest continuously running “no-kill” animal shelter in the Houston metro area.

The Best Friends Network comprises thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations and other animal welfare organizations in all 50 states.

Cheers to the Chamber at No Label Brewery

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Cheers to the Chamber” as part of its celebration of Chamber of Commerce Week.

The event is from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at No Label Brewery, Guests receive a chamber edition pint glass, filled with a beer of their choice.

Tickets are $25. For more information, call the chamber at 281-391-7423.

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch to host 2022 Walk to end Alzheimer’s Disease

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch is joining the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease as the host of the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s 5K, presented by the Alzheimer’s Association of Houston and Southeast Texas.

The event is set to be held from 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sept. 24.

LaCenterra is calling on members of the Katy community and surrounding areas to register for the event and join the fight against the disease. The event will kick off with an opening ceremony at 8:15 a.m. and the walk will start promptly at 8:30 a.m.

In addition to the walk, participants can enjoy live music and entertainment to warm up, snacks and beverages for walk fuel and a special tribute to those who have experienced Alzheimer’s.

“We are thrilled to be working with our friends at the Alzheimer’s Association of Houston and Southeast Texas to bring a fun-filled day of activities to the Katy community,” Zach Reynolds, at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch marketing director, said. “Alzheimer’s disease affects many people and we are proud to support the organization in its fight to end the disease and bring greater awareness through this event.”

Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate. There is no fee to register, but all participants are encouraged to raise funds to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission to provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure.

To register and make a donation, visit the website at act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2022/TX-HoustonampSoutheastTexas.