You can teach an old dog new tricks....

Wendy Gordon in FAUX FUR, natch

By contributor Wendy Gordon

Video by contributor Brendan Kownacki

Tails and tongues were wagging on Monday evening at The Jefferson as Fashion for Paws launched its 6th Annual fundraising drive leading up to the main event which benefits The Washington Humane Society at the National Building Museum on April 14th. 

Over 300 guests including this year’s crop of fundraising models, sponsors and volunteers  packed the main floor of the hotel sipping Svedka cocktails and nibbling on everything from Tater Tots to Ratatouille from the vegetarian (of course!) offerings.  Guests were also treated to a F4P photo exhibit by REVAMP.com, featuring models and event highlights from the past several years. 

From the photo exhibit of Daniel Swartz

Four legged friends available for adoption were also included.  For those lucky enough to share their home with a new little four legged adoptee, Canine Behavior and Training Specialist Jenn Guerriero commented that it’s as much the humans as the pets that need training.  “You can definitely teach an old dog (or young one) new tricks,” Guerriero said, “but human habits like spoiling the pet can be harder to change.  It’s as necessary to practice with your new friend and to enforce - be consistent and loving, of course.”

94.7 Fresh FM's Tommy McFly with  Jenn Guerriero

F4P began in 2007 and has raised more than $1.5 million dollars for WHS to date.  This year, F4P has more than 90 fund raising models raising a minimum of $5000  to model in the runway show designed by sponsor Syzygy Event Productions.  “Teatro Goldoni is honored to be a sponsor for the 5th year.  This cause is very dear to our heart and we will continue to do anything we can to support The Washington Humane Society’s “Fashion For Paws,”  said restaurant owner Michael Kosmides. 

Andrea Szempruch and Brendan Kownacki

Syzygy Event Productions, Digital Lightning, Design Cuisine and Edge Floral Event Designers, etc., will donate a combined total of more than $350,000 in set design, production, lighting, sound,  staging, food, flowers and more. 

Opening the show this year the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), creating ten individual  human and doggie couture pieces to open the show before models, dressed in the luxury retailers of Tysons Galleria, take the runway. 

The Aba Agency will be behind organizing the run of the fashion show; Toka Salon & Day Spa will be backstage handling all of the hair styling; and canine couture will be handled by Wagtime.

Former Cong. (MD) Tom McMillen 94.7 Fresh FM Kelly Collis and Amy Greenlee, National Council on US-Arab Relations

Katy Nelson of KJN Veterinary Consulting

The event will be co-chaired by Michelle Benaim, Dr. Ashley Hughes, Tommy McFly and Sara Nielsen, with Pamela Sorensen as our Mistress of Ceremonies. E! News Now anchor and E! News correspondent Ashlan Gorse will host the event.

Coinciding with the F4P fundraising launch, Georgetown Cupcake will sell F4P inspired cupcakes in all locations from February 6th through April 14th, donating 100% of the proceeds to WHS.  Sweet!

The event will feature more than 60 VIP seated tables of six people ranging from $3000 to $5000 served a three course meal by our sponsor, Design Cuisine, with a select number of very special VVIP tables for ten people right next to the runway for $10,000. There will be 450 VIP runway show style seats behind the tables this year and 800 general attendees in the main section.

For more information and a full list of 2012 models, committee members and sponsors visit: www.fashionforpaws.org and click on the Annual Runway Show.