The Hope Sanctuary has a friend in Simon Cowell.
The X-Factor creator and media mogul Thursday night attended the Hope Sanctuary’s annual fund-raising event, which helps to raise money to aid their mutts and pooches.
Cowell, who typically spends the holidays here, came with an entourage that included his mother and ex-girlfriend Sinitta.
A slew of guests flocked to Mahogany Ridge to take part in the auction in which people bid on paintings, dinner at a plantation house, a cruise on a yacht and X-Factor tickets, all to raise money to house and feed the animals that take up residence at the Hope Sanctuary.
Cowell also took part in the auction by giving away X-Factor tickets and a trip to England and the United States. At one point in the auction, Cowell doubled a bid of US$10 000 for a painting by a local artist.
The sanctuary, which has been running for eight years, has a permanent home on four and a half donated acres.
“This organization is trying to improve the quality of life for the animals,” said auctioneer Jonathan Shallot.
A puppy that now resides at the sanctuary made a guest appearance for the activities.
The high point was when the sanctuary was looking to build 22 dog dens and asked guests to contribute US$1 000 towards the costs. Some patrons, including children, flocked to the front to make their contributions giving the organization more than enough funds for the dog dens.
The Hope Sanctuary was trying to double last year’s efforts from which it raised US$125 000. (SH-O)
