Madison Animal Shelter Halloween Fundraiser

Professor Angela Behrends and her students teamed up with the Photography Club on Oct 30 for a very admirable cause. The groups held a fundraiser at the Mundt Library selling artworks, painting faces, and taking Halloween themed photos to raise money for the local animal shelter.

Hot cider and Halloween candy were provided, as well as the very appropriate puppy chow, as refreshments for community members, students, and faculty who stopped by.

 There was live music courtesy of a local DJ to keep the energy up, too. Many students of Behrends’ classes came by in costume as well to support the activity and provide a service in face-painting. Student and teacher artworks, mainly small sculptures and postcards, were available for purchase; student projects that were bought by those passing through earned that student a 100% on their assignment. The fundraiser gave a sort of new life to these students’ artworks; Behrends explained, “It doesn’t make any sense for students to make stuff then turn it into me for a grade, and then be done with it….that’s not enough.” Those in Behrends’ classes were not obligated to donate their artworks for the event, but the external validation and publicity for those artists was the icing on the cake of the event.

Behrends herself was eager to kick-start a fundraiser that would stay right here in the Madison community. She and her students through the years have worked extensively with Almost Home Canine Rescue, the former head of which informed Behrends of the Madison shelter and its difficulties. Donations from the event went to a special account at Lake Veterinary Clinic, meaning that all of the funds raised stay right here in the neighborhood. “[It’s amazing] for us to have the chance to be part of the community, to contribute, to be of service, [and to] do some good.” 

While Behrends is no stranger to fundraising, this was the first year that Photography Club joined in the same activity. Club member Andrew Bender said that, since the Haunted House shut down, it left an opportunity for other groups on campus to get involved. Community members were able to stop by and for a few dollars get their photos taken in front of the green screen, then the photographers would “plop a background” behind them to create one-of-a-kind pictures in exchange for supporting the animal shelter.

All in all, the charity event raised just over $350 – not bad at all for an afternoon, and the money will certainly be put to good use. While this was the first fundraiser for the Madison animal shelter, Behrends hopes to put on another fundraiser in the spring, though the possibility for something sooner is also in the works.