Pool Table, Tiffany Lamp, Dell Laptop, Fabulous Holidays, Elizabeth Locke and Marilyn Monroe to be Auctioned

Fabulous live and silent auctions will embellish Middleburg Humane Foundation's black-tie dinner dance Saturday, June 14th at Peace & Plenty at Bollingbrook Plantation in Upperville, Virginia. Although the evening's festivities are always spectacular, the auction items this year are truly exceptional.

The popular annual event, chaired by Hostess Rose Marie Bogley at her beautiful estate is always an evening to remember whether you enjoy dining at one of the most stunning estates in the Piedmont, meeting friends and new acquaintances who are devoted to the welfare of animals, seeing the imaginative classical and modern competitive tablescapes or bidding on exceptional items donated by Foundation friends and board members.

Because Middleburg Humane Foundation is a private shelter, it depends entirely on the grace and generosity of friends who enthusiastically support Director Hilleary Bogley's goal of creating a more humane and responsible community that all animals, large and small, have the right to safe and sanitary living conditions. "Our annual benefit at Peace & Plenty helps us enormously as we work to protect all animals from abuse and neglect," Hilleary explained. "Animals depend on us for lives free from pain and fear."

Guests at the gala will also meet many MHF animals who are lucky enough to receive invitations. This year, Whisper, a darling beneficiary of the Foundation's kindness, is the party co-chair dog. Rescued by MHF last November, the sweet, white fellow is deaf and visually impaired, but is now adored by a family in an awesome home.

Co-Chairs for the fourteenth annual event include MHF President and Founder, Hilleary J. Bogley; Rose Marie Bogley, Lisa Ben-Dov, Eleanor Manaker, Elizabeth Wolf, John Zugschwert. Honorary Party Co-Chairs are Dr. Jean Loonam, Dr. Andrea Russell, Dr. Jack Love, Dr. Janet McKim, and The Honorable John Warner.

In addition to games of chance, music by The Whalen Project and scrumptious catering by Back Street Café, the live and silent auctions this year are well worth the price of admission. Auctioneer Clyde Lamond will introduce and describe the many items up for bid.

Among the many beautiful, exceptional, rare and limited items is a limited edition photograph of Marilyn Monroe taken in 1945 by U.S. Army photographer David Conover on the orders of Captain Ronald Reagan. The image is from her first professional portfolio that helped her secure her first modeling and cover girl assignments. She changed her name from Norma Jeane within a year of the photo session and repeatedly attributed her "big break" to the photographs.

Vacation trips for auction include a week on Chincoteague Island, a week on the Outer Banks and a week in Amsterdam. A classically beautiful formal pool table, a leather sofa upon which one could recline in any English manor house, spectacular Elizabeth Locke earrings, teeth floating for four horses and a gorgeous claw foot round oak table with six chairs are among the amazing number of items provided by friends of the Foundation.

Guests will also have an opportunity to bid on tree and landscape services; fine wine; fine art; equine and pet services of all kinds; golf lessons; delicious dining; Gold Cup passes; fabulous fashions; pet portraits; beautiful decorative objects; unique ceramics; flowers and plants and so much more.

The table decorations will be donated by generous designers who always create the exquisite style and settings that have become a hallmark of the MHF event. "We are so grateful to each of the many individuals, organizations and enterprises who help us make this one of the most fun and exciting benefits of the year," Hilleary emphasized. "It is their many kindnesses and amazing generosity that allow us to continue to provide a safe haven for animals who, otherwise, would have miserable lives, or, no lives at all."

The charming invitation cover art featuring "Bug the Pug" who was rescued by MHF in November of 2007, is the work of local artist Robert Liberace. His painting will also be auctioned during the evening.

Advance tickets for $275 per person are available from Middleburg Humane Foundation, www.middleburghumane.com, or 540 364 3272.