Home

Our Mission

HB Video

The Sanctuary

Map & Directions

Available Goldens

Adopting

Adoption Application

Fostering

Surrendering Your Golden

Donating

How You Can Help

Volunteer Application

Shop Our Golden Mall

Membership

Events

Golden Stories

Newsletters & Articles

Pet Resources

Contacts

Email Us
 

Anxiously watching the weather forecast for at least three weeks before Homeward Bound’s Fourth Annual Kibble & Bids fundraiser was scheduled to take place, we had all fingers and paws crossed in hopes temperatures would not break the 100’s! Remembering all too well how hot it was the year before, we were elated when June 26th rolled around and the temperatures stayed in the low 90’s. It was our initial inkling of success! 

Kibble & Bids opened at 3:00 p.m. to the sounds of a great band playing 70’s music in tune with this year’s theme, “A Golden Surfari”. Thanks to the incredible research ability, talent, and shopping prowess of Kibble & Bids committee head Candy Courtney, the Riverwood grounds were dotted with surfboards (some dressed, some not!), tiki torches, and beach-themed signage. The ultimate touch to the décor were the numerous inflated beach balls just waiting to be kicked skyward, thanks to Ron of the Riverwood Estate! Everyone is always in awe of the beautiful surroundings for Kibble & Bids, but this year Doug Alcorn, Kibble & Bids Co-Chair, outdid himself. From the manicured parking orchard to the velvet-looking lawn, the Riverwood Estate was absolutely beautiful.

Guests were treated to a number of new, improved features this year…a new layout, with the ability to sample great food while wine tasting and beer tasting, an expanded raffle with such a variety of great items (thank you Joyce Burr), a souvenir program telling Homeward Bound’s story (thank you Mari Graham and Andi Grenier), and LOTS of Golden Greeters present all dressed to the nine’s with party collars (thank you Hope Williams of Best Friend Nutrition) and, at times, in matching outfits with their owners.

We are very grateful to our vendors this year. Participating wineries were: Ironstone Vineyards, Jewel Wines, Lava Cap Winery, Madrona Vineyards, Mutt Lynch Winery, Nine Gables Vineyards, Perry Creek Winery, Peirano Estates Vineyards, Raymond Vineyards, Renwood Winery, RH Phillips, Stevenot Winery, Trefethen Vineyards, and Wine Shop at Home. In terms of beer and ready-to-drink beverages, we had the best! Boddington’s, Pyramid Ale, River City Brewing Company, Rock Green, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Stella Artois, Smirnoff Ice, and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. A special thanks goes to Jim Block and Steve Peletta for being instrumental in this area.

We were thrilled with the food offerings this year; the variety and the quality were exceptional! Many, many thanks to our participating restaurants and caterers: All Seasons All Reasons Fine Catering (that pasta!), Bandera Restaurant (those ribs were to die for), Bella Bru Café and Catering (those Golden Retriever cookies disappeared in a wink of an eye), Bistro Cooking with Jeanette, California Olive Ranch, Chico’s Tecate Grill of Folsom, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Culinary Specialists, Enotria Café & Wine Bar (we’re all addicted to the incredible hummus), Los Patios Mexican Restaurant, Mikuni’s Japanese Restaurant, River City Brewing Company, Trader Joe’s, Virga’s Catering, Whole Foods Market (what a spread!), and 4th Street Grille. No one went away hungry this year!

As in year’s past, our silent auction – filling 30 tables – had great items! We are indebted to our long-standing, and new, Kibble & Bids donors of artwork, weekend getaways, pottery, jewelry, wine, food, gift certificates, sports items, clothing, and dog and cat-themed items. Our silent auction tables were decorated in this year’s colors of pink, teal, and gold, with miniature zori’s (they all disappeared, by the way!), sunglasses, and other classic beach paraphernalia thanks to Jana Mauk’s talents. Under the large tent, you couldn’t help but notice the beautiful, tropical floral arrangements gracing the tables, adorned with photographs and stories of thirty of Homeward Bound’s rescued Goldens. Ah, the stories! Ah, the photographs! For the third year in a row, Homeward Bound adopter and owner of The Blue Orchid, Heather Murdock (and her husband Sean Smith), provided the centerpieces and floral arrangements at our “stage”. What a stunning sight!

Once the silent auction tables closed and the winery, brewery, and restaurants had finished serving, guest gravitated to the tent to see the Golden parade and hear Jody Jones (Homeward Bound’s President and Co-Founder) introduce many of the Golden Greeters – and tell each personal rescue story. Then, it was on to our live auction! The auction was hosted again this year by Marianne McClary of Good Day – and Good Evening – Sacramento (KMAX, Channel 31) and back by popular demand was our auctioneer extraordinaire, Joe Gates. Talk about being entertained…this year’s live auction was FUN! We auctioned some 30 items this year, ranging from vacations, gourmet dinners, great artwork, upscale weekend getaways to the coast and Las Vegas, art glass, and ... last but not least thanks to the generosity of Geoff and Anne-Marie Petrie, several Sacramento Kings items – and floor seats to a Kings game. Then, the live auction was over, the big raffle prize was announced, and Kibble & Bids was over.

Over? For those of us involved in the months and months of planning and meetings, the evening flew by in a heartbeat! It was all worth the effort…Kibble & Bids raised approximately $68,000.00 this year, a record! Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors, vendors, guests, and volunteers, we have consistently increased our net proceeds by $10,000+ each year…and all of it goes to the maintenance and improvements of Homeward Bound’s adoption center and sanctuary – for the Goldens.

An event of this magnitude (some 500-600 guests), could not be accomplished without the dedication and commitment of the committee heads – and the 100+ volunteers who help set up and clean up, monitor tables, do key entry, serve food and beverages, etc. Our sincere thanks to all the volunteers – and especially those individuals who took on the task of heading a committee or taking the lead on making certain crucial items (like portable restrooms and ice!) were handled.

For the fourth year in a row, we must recognize Doug Alcorn and John White who allow Homeward Bound to hold Kibble & Bids on their beautiful Riverwood Estate. We can’t thank them enough for their generosity and kindness.

Now, the big question: What about 2005? We’ve taken stock of what went well this year and what improvements can be made for next year. We’re very excited to announce that next year’s Kibble & Bids – our fifth anniversary – will be held at The Riverwood Estate on Saturday, June 25th, 2005. Mark your calendars now...it will be phenomenal!

More Kibble & Bids Photos

7495 Natomas Road, Elverta CA  95626  |  TEL  916-655-1410  |  FAX  916-655-3410   |  Tax ID #68-0442702