Fifth Annual Gala by Canines For Service

Fifth Annual Gala

This milestone celebration will be an unforgettable evening honoring three decades of 'Inspiring Veterans Through Life-Changing Canine Partnerships.'

$18,950 raised of $100,000 goal

EVENT TIME iCal - Outlook - Google

Sat, April 18, 2026
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET

LOCATION

Hotel Ballast

301 North Water Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

EVENT OFFERS

DONATE

30 Years of Service

This year marks a monumental milestone for Canines for Service - 30 years of training and placing highly trained service dogs with those in need, and our 100th Veteran-dog partnership. Join us for an evening of live music, cocktails, plated dinner, an exciting auction, raffle, and more!

*Please kindly note that this event is open to guests 21 and up.

Featured Partner: Call to Auction

We are excited to partner with Bobby D. Elhert of Call to Auction to support our Fifth Annual Gala! Bobby brings unique energy, engagement, and inspiration to Fundraising Events and Galas.

With over 20 years of Fundraising Consultation and Auctioneer Experience, he uses his passion for world change and humanism in the nonprofit space by focusing his voice to educate, encourage, empower, and unite supporters!

The Afterparty: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Local veteran-owned business, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, will be hosting a give-back night after the Gala from 9:30pm til midnight! This venue specializes in whiskey cocktails, unique drinks, craft beer, and fine wine. Keep the celebration going while supporting a small business and continuing to serve veterans with every purchase.

111 Grace Street Wilmington, NC 28401

Tickets

$200 Gala Ticket

The Gala Ticket grants entry to an elegant evening featuring a plated dinner, open bar, live music, an exciting auction and more. Celebrate with us while making a meaningful impact through your support.

Please kindly note that this event is for guests 21 and over.

$200 Purchase a Ticket for a Veteran

Unable to attend the Gala, but still want to support our cause? You can purchase a ticket for a Veteran client.

Apply Promo Code

Event Offers

$50 VIP Puppy Meet & Greet

VIP Puppy Meet & Greet - 6pm-7pm

Join us for a heart-warming Puppy Meet & Greet, held during the cocktail hour at the gala, featuring puppies in training to become service dogs and an open bar. This exclusive add-on experience allows you to interact with the puppies and learn how your support helps shape their journey toward becoming life-changing service dogs.

Fund a Need

$5,000 1 Veteran Team Training

Covers the full team training experience for a veteran and their service dog. This includes meals, travel, lodging, and all training-related expenses, allowing the veteran to focus entirely on building a successful partnership without the burden of cost.

$3,000 30th Anniversary - Impact

A special giving level in honor of our 30th anniversary. Your support celebrates three decades of service while helping us continue transforming the lives of veterans through lifelong canine partnerships.

$1,500 Veterinary Care

Provides routine veterinary exams, vaccines, health testing, and spay/neuter for a service dog in training.

$1,000 1 Year of Food & Preventatives

Sustains a full year of high-quality nutrition and monthly preventatives for a service dog in training, giving them the consistent care they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

$500 25 Hours of Training

Covers 25 hours of professional service dog training, helping shape the confidence, reliability, and advanced skills that make a life-changing partnership possible. Each dog completes an average of 1,800+ hours of training before being partnered with their Veteran client.

$300 30th Anniversary - Supporter

Celebrate 30 years of service and stand with us as we continue building strong futures for veterans and their service dogs.

$100 100th Veteran-Dog Match

Commemorates our upcoming 100th veteran–dog match and covers enrichment items that build confidence, encourage engagement, and support a dog’s emotional well-being during training.

Organizer

Canines For Service Melissa Blackmon mblackmon@caninesforservice.org 221-1 Old Dairy Road, Wilmington NC 28405 9103628181 http://caninesforservice.org

$18,950 raised of $100,000 goal

EVENT TIME iCal - Outlook - Google

Sat, April 18, 2026
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET

LOCATION

Hotel Ballast

301 North Water Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

EVENT OFFERS

DONATE

Sponsorships

$10,000 Presenting

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot guarentee delivery of benefits on gala sponsorships purchased after March 9th, 2026. For more information about our year-round sponsorship opportunities, click here: CFS-Sponsorships-1.pdf

8 Gala Tickets
8 Puppy Meet & Greet Tickets
4 Valet Tickets
1 VIP Table with Logo Seated with a Veteran Client Team
3 Social Media Posts
Full Page Program Ad
Logo on CFS Homepage & Event Page
Logo on Post-Gala Email & 1 Newsletter
Opportunity to Name a Puppy

$5,000 Platinum

8 Gala Tickets
8 Puppy Meet & Greet Tickets
4 Valet Tickets
1 Premium Table with Logo Seated with a Veteran Client Team
2 Social Media Posts
1/2 Page Program Ad
Logo on the Event Page
Logo on Post-Gala Email and 1 Newsletter

$2,500 Diamond

6 Gala Tickets
6 Puppy Meet & Greet Tickets
3 Valet Tickets
1 Table with Logo Seated with a Veteran Client Team
1 Social Media Posts
1/3 Page Program Ad
Logo on the Event Page
Logo on Post-Gala Email and 1 Newsletter

$1,000 Gold

4 Gala Tickets
Half Table with Name
1 Combined Gold Sponsor Post
Name in the Program Ad
Name on the Event Page

$500 Silver

2 Gala Tickets
Quarter Table with Name
1 Combined Silver Sponsor Post

$250 Bronze

1 Combined Bronze Sponsor Post

Apply Promo Code

Donate

Can't join the event? You can still support this cause…

DONATE

Organizer

Canines For Service Melissa Blackmon 221-1 Old Dairy Road, Wilmington NC 28405 mblackmon@caninesforservice.org 9103628181 http://caninesforservice.org

Tickets

Event Offers

Fund a Need

Organizer

Sponsorships

Recent Donations

Donate

Organizer