The CG Freck Foundation (CGFF) in coordination with Wartrace’s Float–A–Boat will host the annual Paddlin’ for Paws and Duck River Poker Float event on Saturday, April 14. [Note: Rescheduled for Sunday, April 29 due to inclement weather]. All proceeds raised will go towards the rescuing, feeding, housing and care of homeless animals while educating and supporting local no-kill shelters. The primary function of the foundation is providing financial support to area no-kill shelters and those that foster animals in need.
The CG Freck Foundation works closely with Bedford County Animal Control and many of the animal shelters in Rutherford County like Operation Education Animal Rescue, Barfield Animal Hospital and the Humane Society of Tennessee. Most recently they helped fund a surgical addition to the Bedford County Animal Control to spay and neuter local cats and dogs. For the future, CGFF would like to help pass some laws that would prove more humane and eliminate abuse to our four-legged friends.
Donegan, Bennett and Cataldo
This year’s fundraiser will also mark the five-year anniversary of the CG Freck Foundation—which was created April 14, 2013—as well as the six-year death anniversary of CG, one of the two namesakes for the foundation. Both CG and Freckles, the other namesake, were a mix of Jack Russell/Terrier who were rescued at only six weeks of age and who provided love and many wonderful memories to their owner, Gena Trice. It is out of their love for CG and Freckles that the foundation was born.
According to the CGFF’s website, Trice is simply “giving back to honor them . . . CG and Freckles were their owner’s life for so many years. Today, everyone involved with the CG Freck Foundation gives much of their lives to help save animals—all in the name of CG & Freckles. This story resonates with everyone on a different level. Nevertheless, it is a reminder with each rescue, our animals give us so much love and joy, this is the least we can do to honor them.”
Also, noted on their website, CGFF states, “Not a day goes by these girls are not missed dearly, but they are always with us as we save others one by one,” summarizing their mission to save other animals while speaking about their love for CG and Freckles.
As in previous years, the Paddlin’ for Paws event will be hosted by Float-A-Boat, located at 205 Blackman Blvd. in Wartrace, Tennessee. Participants will need to register by Monday, April 9. Advance tickets for the full event are $42, tickets for the Annual Poker Float are $30 and tickets for just the concert are $12.
The full admission price will allow participants to eat barbecue, listen to live music, participate in an auction and, of course, play in the five-card floating poker run.
Musicians performing this year are country artists Zach Donegan, Taylor Bennett and Asher Cataldo. Some of the items being auctioned are brewery memorabilia, racecar memorabilia, vacations, fly fishing lessons. The float will run from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. with the auction beginning at 3 p.m. The concert will run from 1–6 p.m.
“One hundred percent of all the money donated goes towards the animals; all money for the food, auction, and other vendors goes to the animals. Nothing is taken out for any fees for the boats or to run the operations for this,” emphasizes Kim Council, who co-owns Float–A–Boat with Trice.
For more information on the upcoming Paddlin’ for Paws event or how you can donate to CG Freck Foundation, visit cgfreck.com or call 931-619-6959.
