The University’s beloved, living mascot Mike VI will be turning a whopping 7 years old this upcoming weekend.
To help him celebrate another year in Tiger country, the School of Veterinary Medicine is partnering up with Pearls & Tiger Paws to create a birthday bash.
The event will be hosted at Circa 1857 on Saturday July 21 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. There is a $20 donation requirement per person.
Laura Lanier, director of development for the School of Veterinary Medicine, explained that this is only the second year that a shindig will be thrown in honor of Mike.
Lanier said that the party is the brainchild of Pearls & Tiger Paws, an auxiliary volunteer-based group that does fundraising and publicity for the Vet School.
“We’re pretty quiet in our volunteering, but I think this will become a more overt group,” Lanier said. “I think this is something that is a more visible opportunity to give back.”
The fundraiser will be beneficial not only to four-legged friends, but also to the residents of Baton Rouge.
“We really want people to know that we are here for them. We are not only a place for emergencies, but we are also a place that supports community outreach,” Lanier said. “This event is really about the school, and about the clinic and about the students.”
The party promises a good time and lots of light-hearted fun, but it is also an opportunity for the school to showcase its caretaking of different animals, such as dogs, cats, exotics and exotic cats like Mike, according to Lanier.
“A lot of people forget at times when they see that beautiful habitat and that beautiful cat in there that Mike does have health issues, preventive issues and feeding that are all taken care of by staff of the Vet School,” Lanier said.
The entertainment of the night will include local Americana act Ben Bell and the Stardust Boys, silent auctions, vintage shopping, food catered by Yvette Marie’s Café, an open bar, photo booth and the human Mike the Tiger mascot, Lanier reports.
A children’s station will also be part of the festivities and include include sidewalk chalk, balloon animals and caricatures of Mike and other animals.
“We feel like we’re really community based, and that makes it a real family atmosphere,” Lanier said. “For people who couldn’t see coming without their children, we want them to feel this is a friendly environment.”
All proceeds of the night will be donated to the School of Veterinary Medicine’s philanthropic partners. The main areas that the money will be benefiting are research, scholarships and keeping the hospital running, according to Lanier.
Continuing the celebration, Pearls & Tiger Paws will also be hosting an event on July 29 at Corks and Canvases. Guests are welcome to come drink, paint and get to know more about Pearls & Tiger Paws.
Contact Taylor Schoen at [email protected].