On March 25th, the J Pearl Society threw a party with a purpose — and the animals at the Peninsula SPCA are better for it.

The Pearl Society is the J's women's giving circle, bringing together community members who are passionate about philanthropy, connection and making a meaningful difference on the Virginia Peninsula and around the world. Each year, the group hosts a social action party benefiting a deserving local non-profit. This year's celebration marked the 9th consecutive year of turning a fun evening into tangible community impact for organizations that need it most.

This year's beneficiary was the Peninsula SPCA, and the community delivered. Guests arrived with donations in hand: dog toys, cat treats, leashes, litter and everything in between, and by the end of the evening, hundreds of items had been collected for pets waiting for their forever homes.

But Pearls for Paws was no ordinary donation drop-off — the Pearl Society knows how to make a night of it. Guests enjoyed pet-themed snacks, competed in party games with prizes up for grabs, and rolled up their sleeves to craft DIY tug toys from cut-up t-shirts and whip up no-bake homemade dog treats. Every handmade item headed to the shelter carried a little extra love from the women who made it. 

Pearl member Sheila Bookbinder, who has been part of the Pearl Society since 2019, captured the spirit of the evening perfectly: "It was such an enjoyable evening with friends and such a worthy cause. I hope that our 'paw friends' got some much needed necessities and equally enjoyed the treats and toys that we made."

"The pearl party was a wonderful combination of community engagement and togetherness. It provided a way to enjoy each other's company while at the same time, helping to make life for animals at the SPCA better,” shared Kelli Caplan, who has been a member of Pearl Society since its very beginning.

It was a beautiful reminder that social action doesn't have to feel like work. When community comes together with purpose and joy, the impact is real. The Peninsula SPCA was deeply grateful for the overwhelming generosity and we couldn't be prouder of what this incredible group of women accomplished.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, donated and made the 9th annual Pearl party such a wonderful success. Here's to many more years of making a difference!