- We are Famous Fido
Celebration of Life August 2025.
Central to our mission is the belief that all animals deserve to live a healthy, cruelty-free life. The Celebration of Life is an annual event created to raise awareness of the challenges animals face and the role humans can play in the solution.
- Celebration of Life
Help Kickstart the Celebration of Life
This year, we aim to raise $250,000 to bring our vision of a healthier, happier world for all animals to life. Your support can make a world of difference as we secure a venue, arrange catering, gather production equipment, and cover the countless other details that go into making the Celebration of Life an unforgettable success. Together, we can turn this vision into reality—join us today!
raised
donations
our goal
About the Celebration of Life
The Celebration of Life Gala is the most meaningful night of the year at Famous Fido Rescue. It is an in-person evening dedicated to honoring the animals whose lives have been saved, the families who opened their hearts, and the community that makes this work possible.
Each year, we welcome approximately 175-250 guests to gather, share a meal, and reflect on the real stories of rescue happening right here in Chicago. The evening centers on adoption journeys, medical interventions, and the ongoing commitment it takes to remain a no-kill rescue for over 50 years.
Our guests are the people who stand behind this mission year-round, including adopters, monthly donors, longtime supporters, local business owners, veterinarians, volunteers, and community members who believe deeply in protecting animals who have nowhere else to go.
Many attendees are individuals and families who give consistently, support local businesses that support rescue, and choose to invest in organizations they trust. They are decision-makers in their households and companies, and they value authenticity, integrity, and long-standing community impact. For sponsors, this evening offers meaningful visibility within a room full of compassionate, engaged supporters – people who pay attention to who stands beside the causes they care about. The Celebration of Life is not about spectacle. It is about substance. It reflects the heart of Famous Fido Rescue: steady, relentless commitment to saving lives.
- Celebration of Life
Corporate Sponsorship
We need your business’ help! Events like the Celebration of Life are a wonderful chance for your business to demonstrate a commitment to making a positive mark on your community. Get in touch with us so we can start a conversation on what your help can look like. Meet Some of Our Past Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
$15,000
As our Presenting Sponsor, your organization will be recognized as the leading partner behind this year’s Celebration of Life. This partnership helps underwrite lifesaving medical care and urgent intervention cases and immediately helps in the moments when time matters most.
Benefits include:
- “Celebration of Life presented by” recognition across all event materials
- Premier logo placement on website, invitations, signage, and event displays
- Verbal recognition throughout the evening program
- Full-page ad in the printed program
- One VIP table for 10 guests
- Dedicated social media spotlight
- Recognition in post-event email campaign
- Logo placement on photo backdrop
- Opportunity to include a branded item in guest gift bag
Presenting Sponsor
$15,000
As our Presenting Sponsor, your organization will be recognized as the leading partner behind this year’s Celebration of Life. This partnership helps underwrite lifesaving medical care and urgent intervention cases and immediately helps in the moments when time matters most.
Benefits include:
- “Celebration of Life presented by” recognition across all event materials
- Premier logo placement on website, invitations, signage, and event displays
- Verbal recognition throughout the evening program
- Full-page ad in the printed program
- One VIP table for 10 guests
- Dedicated social media spotlight
- Recognition in post-event email campaign
- Logo placement on photo backdrop
- Opportunity to include a branded item in guest gift bag
Presenting Sponsor
$15,000
As our Presenting Sponsor, your organization will be recognized as the leading partner behind this year’s Celebration of Life. This partnership helps underwrite lifesaving medical care and urgent intervention cases and immediately helps in the moments when time matters most.
Benefits include:
- “Celebration of Life presented by” recognition across all event materials
- Premier logo placement on website, invitations, signage, and event displays
- Verbal recognition throughout the evening program
- Full-page ad in the printed program
- One VIP table for 10 guests
- Dedicated social media spotlight
- Recognition in post-event email campaign
- Logo placement on photo backdrop
- Opportunity to include a branded item in guest gift bag
Presenting Sponsor
$15,000
As our Presenting Sponsor, your organization will be recognized as the leading partner behind this year’s Celebration of Life. This partnership helps underwrite lifesaving medical care and urgent intervention cases and immediately helps in the moments when time matters most.
Benefits include:
- “Celebration of Life presented by” recognition across all event materials
- Premier logo placement on website, invitations, signage, and event displays
- Verbal recognition throughout the evening program
- Full-page ad in the printed program
- One VIP table for 10 guests
- Dedicated social media spotlight
- Recognition in post-event email campaign
- Logo placement on photo backdrop
- Opportunity to include a branded item in guest gift bag
Presenting Sponsor
$15,000
As our Presenting Sponsor, your organization will be recognized as the leading partner behind this year’s Celebration of Life. This partnership helps underwrite lifesaving medical care and urgent intervention cases and immediately helps in the moments when time matters most.
Benefits include:
- “Celebration of Life presented by” recognition across all event materials
- Premier logo placement on website, invitations, signage, and event displays
- Verbal recognition throughout the evening program
- Full-page ad in the printed program
- One VIP table for 10 guests
- Dedicated social media spotlight
- Recognition in post-event email campaign
- Logo placement on photo backdrop
- Opportunity to include a branded item in guest gift bag
Presenting Sponsor
$15,000
As our Presenting Sponsor, your organization will be recognized as the leading partner behind this year’s Celebration of Life. This partnership helps underwrite lifesaving medical care and urgent intervention cases and immediately helps in the moments when time matters most.
Benefits include:
- “Celebration of Life presented by” recognition across all event materials
- Premier logo placement on website, invitations, signage, and event displays
- Verbal recognition throughout the evening program
- Full-page ad in the printed program
- One VIP table for 10 guests
- Dedicated social media spotlight
- Recognition in post-event email campaign
- Logo placement on photo backdrop
- Opportunity to include a branded item in guest gift bag
Interested in
Presenting?
We want to hear from you. Contact us and let us know your area of focus and what you’d like to share.
Interested in Volunteering?
We want to help share your talent with our community. Contact us to let us know how you can contribute.
Interested in
Performing?
We want to help share your talent with our community. Contact us to let us know how you can contribute.
Stay for the silent auction
Thanks to generous donations from the businesses we partner with, we are proud to offer a variety of exciting gifts for auction. If you would like to help us reach our goal and have something you’d like to donate to our auction, get in touch with us by clicking below.
- Gift Cards
- Experiences
- Spa Packages
- Restaurant Certificates
- Wine & Spirits
- Art & Luxury Goods
- Collectibles & Memorabilia
- About Us
What we do
Interventions
We work to stop abandonment before it starts by providing support to guardians before they surrender a companion.
Animal Rescue
We provide food, housing, veterinary care and adoption services for animals who have lost their homes.
Advocacy
We speak out on issues facing domesticated cats and dogs in Chicago and the greater animal welfare community at large.
- The Issues
The Issues We Address
Turning the Tide of Endangered Species
An ever increasing number of species, like the orangutan are becoming endangered. We must…
- Present the roles humans play in the situation
- Identify steps that can be taken to combat the issue
- Build a network of supporters to take action
Ending the Mistreatment of Domesticated Farm Animals
American society is still dependent on factory farm practices that subject animals to cruel lifespans. We must…
- Spread awareness of the extent of the issue
- Discuss humane alternatives to these practices
- Build a network of supporters to take action
Building a More Just Society for Domesticated Cats & Dogs
It is estimated that roughly 6 million cats & dogs enter shelters every year. One in three will not find another home. We must…
- Illustrate the root causes of animal abandonment
- Advocate for an end to irresponsible breeding
- Present alternatives to unnecessary euthanasia
- Event
What we Expect at the event
An Evening That Makes a Difference
September 11, 2026
Join us for an unforgettable evening dedicated to compassion, community, and life-saving impact. The night begins with a welcoming cocktail hour, giving you the chance to connect with fellow supporters and enjoy a relaxed, inspiring atmosphere. As the evening unfolds, guests will be invited to participate in a curated silent auction, followed by a thoughtfully prepared dinner.
Throughout the event, you’ll hear powerful stories of rescue, recovery, and transformation—real moments that highlight the difference your support makes. We’ll also take time to recognize and celebrate the incredible community that stands behind this mission.
The evening will conclude with a live appeal, offering a meaningful opportunity to directly support the life-saving work of Famous Fido Rescue and help give more animals the second chance they deserve.
Rewatch the 2024 Celebration of Life Here
We gather some of the brightest minds in conservancy, animal rights activism and advocacy alongside talented, passionate musicians and other community members. The Celebration of Life speaks to the urgent need for thoughtful coexistence between humans and animals in a world we need to share.
Central to our mission is the belief that all animals deserve to live a healthy, cruelty-free life. The Celebration of Life is an annual event created to raise awareness of the challenges animals face and the role humans can play in the solution.