Benicia Dog Festival

Sep 28, 2022 | News

Benicia Dog Festival 2022The Benicia Community Foundation (BCF) is proud to announce its financial support for the October 15th Benicia Dog Festival—organized for the rescue and care of animals affected by natural disasters in our region.

Last week, BCF board members presented Dog Festival founders Gaul Culley and Kelly Dillingham with a general grant to help to support the event.

“I would like to sincerely thank The Benicia Community Foundation for their generous support of the inaugural year of The Benicia Dog Festival,” said Gaul Culley, event Founder.

“Kelly (Kelly Dillingham, Operations Coordinator, The Benicia Dog Festival) and I had a chance to meet with the Board of Directors of the BCF, made up of individuals with families that have lived in Benicia for multiple generations. We were invited to share the vision of the Benicia Dog Festival, and the Board was so very supportive.  We are very grateful; to be acknowledged by the Benicia Community Foundation,” she added.

“We are so honored to partner with the team organizing The Benicia Dog Festival,” said David Batchelor, BCF Chair, “BCF brings heart to solving community challenges and is dedicated to supporting our community and local charities while building community camaraderie,” he added.

Benicia Dog FestivalAccording to Ms. Culley, “Not only is this festival going to serve as a fun day to celebrate our most loyal members of the community- DOGS! but also serves as a fundraiser to support the organizations that rescue and care for animals that are affected by natural disasters and declared emergencies.  The funds raised from this event will not be used until there is a need from a natural disaster or a declared emergency occurs in our area.  The Solano Association of Realtors Foundation, which is a 501c3 organization that is overseen by members of our community that are in the real estate industry.”

“It is our mission to build strong, giving relationships with many Benicia non-profit organizations with grant donations that help each achieve their community-based goals,” added BCF Executive Director Terry Scott.

“Supporting The Benicia Dog Festival is a perfect example of a local partnership between two local groups to make Benicia a better place through active philanthropy,” said Donna Koontz, BCF Board Secretary.

The Benicia Dog Festival is a one-day free admission event on October 17 from 11AM-4PM.  Some of the fun things that will be happening at the event include a dog and me agility contest, a red carpet runway costume contest, a pet adoption event, shopping at vendor booths, and K9 Police demonstrations, to name a few.  At 3:30PM, there will be a pet blessing for the dogs at the event and a ladybug release honoring our furry friends that are no longer with us.

The Benicia Community Foundation joins a special group of sponsors that include:  Valero, NexGen K9 Dog Training, CrossCountry Mortgage, Twin Oaks Real Estate, Inc., Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific, ReMax Gold, Krystle Properties Compass, Creative Clips, Benicia Plumbing, Fairway Mortgage, Junk 180, Sandovals, Featherer Pet, A Zillion Air, Inc., ZW Branding.

Attending the grant presentation was BCF Chair David Batchelor, Kristine Passalacqua, Vice-Chair; Steven Green, CFO; Kathy Adams, COO; Donna Koontz, Board Secretary; and Terry Scott, Executive Director. Representing The Benicia Dog Festivals were founder Gaul Culley and Kelly Dillingham, Operations Coordinator.

For Information on The Benicia Dog Festival, please visit BeniciaDogFestival.com.