The Celebrating Compassion Gala 2008 is coming to Columbus 8 p.m. Saturday at the Landmark Gateway Theater, at 1550 N. High Street. Hosted by Mercy for Animals, the event will feature a vegan-friendly menu, awards ceremony, silent auction, music, dancing and networking opportunities for vegans and vegetarians.
"This night will really be an opportunity for us to honor the leaders within the vegetarian and animal rights community," said Freeman Wicklund, director of Campaigns for Mercy for Animals. "We're giving one award to a columnist from the Plain Dealer for her animal rights columns and another to a heart surgeon who prevents recurrence of heart disease with vegan diet plans for his patients."
The gala's menu will be catered by vegan-friendly vendors. Patty Cake Bakery will provide desserts, and Wellness Forum Foods will offer a variety of foods.
"We planned a simple menu - dips, tea, sandwiches, spring rolls," said Dell Srous, owner and cook at Wellness Forum Foods. "The foods we're having will make it easier for vegans to try everything available instead of being stuck wondering what's in the food."
Srous has been the company's owner for 11 years and has seen how vegan-friendly culture has become widespread and easier to follow. Several small vegan-friendly businesses have started in the Clintonville area, and commercial grocery stores offer more options than before.
"These types of events always have a broad spectrum of people attend," Wicklund said. "But this is Mercy for Animal's Year-in-Review and we want to have fun and get the message out about how important these issues are."
Tickets are available on the event's Web site. All proceeds go to Mercy for Animals.
Amy Hoover can be reached at hoover.226@osu.edu.
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