Santa Clarita residents gathered for “A Night with the Stars” to celebrate the stars of the Castaic Animal Care Center who are looking to be cared for and adopted.
Local dignitaries and county representatives came to the event at an office building earlier this month on Carl Boyer Drive to celebrate and fundraise for the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation, a nonprofit designed to “support the animals served by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control,” according to the organization’s website.
Actor J. Eddie Peck, who played “Cole Howard” in “The Young and the Restless” was the master of ceremonies. The event was also attended by multiple local dignitaries and elected officials, including: Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce; state Sen. Suzette Valladares, R-Acton; Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth; Santa Clarita City Council members Jason Gibbs and Patsy Ayala; and, Castaic Town Council members Bob Lewis and Abigail DeSesa.
L.A. County Animal Care Department Director Marcia Mayeda discussed the incentive of the fundraiser, spearheaded by longtime local sponsors Kiza and Richard Hilton.
“We’re really grateful to Kiza and Richard Hilton for hosting the fundraiser. What it did is raise money for the L.A. County Animal Care Foundation. People can make donations to the foundation, and it goes directly to the animals, animal programs and anything that supports enhancing the care of the animals at the centers, but also in the community,” Mayeda said. “They provide low-cost spay, neuter, vaccinations and microchipping to be able to help pet owners be able to afford animal keeping.”
The foundation, which was created in 1987, still continues to grow every year.
“This was a one-time event, and we give a lot of thanks and gratitude to Kiza for all of the hard work she put into this. As far as fundraising goes, we encourage people to become monthly donors at any amount they wish. Anything helps. If we can increase our monthly donors, that gives us more financial stability, because we have a set amount that we could rely on,” Mayeda said. “If people want to see how we’re doing, they can look at that. The statistics for the animals are on the county’s website.”
Kiza Hilton has worked with the L.A. County Animal Care Department, and specifically the Castaic Animal Care Center, for over a decade.
“[Previously], my husband and I have paid to have events to gain exposure. Some of the events that we did were honoring rescue people and shelter volunteers, people who are doing what they can to help animals. We’ve sponsored the parade float for the Fourth of July. For this event, the room usage fee was really high, so I moved it to my husband’s building,” Hilton said.
Hilton, who began planning six months ago, said that while the number is still being calculated, the amount raised is in the thousands.
“It was absolutely wonderful when I contacted all the community leaders, all of our elected officials — everybody signed on and said that they would be honored to help. Over the years, we’ve done different types of events and anything we could do to help out the local Santa Clarita Valley Animal Shelter. This party was ambitious to get the congressman, state senator, Assembly person, state, county and city officials — it was an undertaking,” Hilton said.
To donate to the cause, visit lacountyanimals.org/way-to-give.
