Inside the inaugural Fetch Pet Gala: A celebration of pets & the people who love them

In a city known for star-studded nights, the Fetch Pet Gala offered something different — a green carpet where pets and their people walked side by side. Hosted at The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, the event raised over $530,000 to fuel the lifesaving work of four nonprofit beneficiaries that provide critical funds for medical care, adoption and support services for thousands of pets and their people in urgent need.

“This night is about every person who has ever shown up for a pet,” CEO Paul Guyardo said. “Whether you adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, or simply understand and advocate for protecting the human animal bond — you are part of this movement.”

This milestone was made possible by a powerful community: Broadway royalty, world-class designers, life-saving organizations, passionate sponsors, generous corporate partners, and devoted guests who came together for pets and their people.

For Fetch Pet Insurance CEO Paul Guyardo, the Gala embodied a vision to redefine how the world celebrates and supports animal welfare. By bringing together cultural leaders, designers, and advocates, he aimed to transform a single night of glamour into a lasting movement for pets and their people.

The Fetch Pet Gala’s purpose

While couture collars and celebrity guests provided the sparkle, the heart of the evening centered on impact. Funds raised from the Fetch Pet Gala provided support for:

• Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS - the philanthropic heart of Broadway, helping ensure those affected by HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses receive medication, meals, counseling and emergency assistance. Broadway Cares is a 501(c)(3) that supports more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states, including eight organizations focused on helping people with chronic illnesses keep and care for their beloved pets.
  
• Broadway Barks -  a 501(c)(3) that unites animal shelters, rescue organizations and the Broadway community to find loving homes for countless dogs and cats. As animals await their forever home, your support helps provide food, medical care and safe shelter for our furry friends.
  
• Project Street Vet - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers veterinary teams to deliver professional, non-judgmental medical care & support to pet families experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability. The vision of Project Street Vet is to create a world where veterinary care is accessible to every pet family.
  
• Wags & Walks- a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to reducing euthanasia and celebrating rescue dogs as beloved family members. Since 2011, Wags has saved over 16,000 dogs across Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. Wags and Walks is focused on advocating for wrongfully stereotyped bully breeds, medical dogs, and mamas and puppies that are often overlooked and at risk due to overcrowding. 

Adoptable rescue dogs from North Shore Animal League America,  the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, and Fetch’s first partner of the Shelter Heroes program, walked The Green Carpet presented by Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day.

An evening of unforgettable performances 

The Fetch Pet Gala brought together Broadway royalty, world-class designers, life-saving animal welfare organizations, passionate sponsors, generous corporate partners, and devoted guests for an unforgettable evening celebrating pets with purpose.

Tony Award–winning Broadway stars Bernadette Peters, Sutton Foster, and Leslie Odom Jr. generously donated their time and talent to support the Fetch Pet Gala’s mission.

Also part of the evening’s activities was the global debut of Collars for Cause, a new charitable initiative featuring one-of-a-kind couture pet collars created by world-class fashion and jewelry designers. The first collection of Collars for Cause, designed by international talents including Jeffrey Banks and James Taffin de Givenchy, debuted at the gala and will be featured in HERITAGE Auctions' Holiday Luxury Accessories Signature® Auction on December 4, 2025, with proceeds benefiting the gala’s charities.

Following the main event, guests were treated to a surprise performance by John Legend at the Fetch Pet Gala After Party presented by Kismet, the pet-wellness brand he co-founded with Chrissy Teigen — a memorable finale that had guests on their feet and underscored the spirit of celebration for a cause.

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Honoring the community behind the event

Though the evening dazzled, its soul remained grounded in gratitude for organizations making an impact in the lives of pets and their people in urgent need. 

The Fetch Pet Gala proudly recognized the leadership and generosity of its key event sponsors: Kismet, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, SATELLAI and Tito’s Handmade Vodka and for its corporate partners, including:

AXIS Capital, Cozen O'Connor, GlobalLogic, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Icon Media Direct, JPMorganChase, Pet Insurance Quotes LLC, Raymond James, Sapiens, Tokio Marine HCC, Aon, SPRYFOX, Solomon Page, and Warburg Pincus.

With more than half a million dollars raised, the Fetch Pet Gala did more than mark a milestone. It united a community and amplified a mission of honoring both the pets who need us and the people who never stop showing up for them.

The event’s success cements a new tradition — one that reflects Guyardo’s vision: a future where celebration fuels change and every pet has a chance at its fullest, happiest life.