Smart Pups Winter Gala
Description
An elegant evening of celebration, inspiration and community impact - celebrating 15 years of Smart Pups
Step into an elegant winter wonderland for the inaugural Smart Pups Winter Gala Dinner, held in the stunning Maroochy RSL Ballroom. This special evening celebrates 15 years of Smart Pups changing lives and improving the quality of life for children with special needs.
Join corporate partners, community champions and dog lovers for a night of connection, generosity and purpose. Your presence helps ensure more Australian children living with disability, medical conditions and special needs can experience safety, independence and confidence through a highly trained assistance dog.
We are proud to welcome Beau Vernon as our inspirational guest speaker. After a life-changing accident at 23 left him a quadriplegic, Beau chose to focus on possibility over limitation. Today, as a Paralympic medallist, elite adaptive athlete, father and leader, he shares a powerful message of resilience, mindset and perspective that perfectly reflects the heart of Smart Pups. Beau will be joined by Pat Welsh, one of Australia's most respected sports journalists and commentators.
Guests will enjoy a two-course dinner, drinks, live entertainment from Raw Ordio (DJ set), heartfelt stories from Smart Pups families and an exciting live auction and fundraising moments to support the breeding, training and placement of future assistance dogs.
This is more than a gala - it’s a celebration of hope, inclusion and the power of dogs to change lives, one paw at a time.
Ticket inclusions
STANDARD GALA TICKET – $250
Includes:
• Two-course formal dinner
• Beer & wine package
• Live entertainment
• MC, keynote speaker & family interview
• Smart Pups impact presentations
• Full access to live & silent auctions
IMPACT TICKET – $350
For guests who want to go beyond attendance and directly help train a Smart Pup. An Impact Ticket represents a deeper commitment to changing the life of a child and their family.
Everything included in a Standard Gala Ticket, plus:
• Premium seating in the front half of the ballroom
• Acknowledgement as an Impact Supporter in the official program
• Gift of exclusive Impact supporter pin
• One free entry to win a Smart Pup puppy experience
• Invitation to a pre-event photo shoot with a puppy
Corporate Tables
CORPORATE TABLE – $2,200 (10 Guests)
• Reserved table of 10
• Company name listed in event program
• Recognition as a Corporate Supporter
• Full gala inclusions for all guests
IMPACT CORPORATE TABLE – $3,000 (10 Guests)
Designed for businesses who want visible leadership in community impact. An Impact Table demonstrates your company’s commitment to changing lives through Smart Pups.
Everything in the Corporate Table package, plus:
• Premium front-of-room table placement
• Company logo displayed on event screen rotation
• Recognition from the stage as an Impact Business Supporter
• Logo placement in evening program
• Social media acknowledgement (pre- or post-event)
• Gift of exclusive Impact supporter pin for each guest at the table
• Optional pre-event team photo with Smart Pups
• Opportunity to add a pull up banner in the room
Dress Code
Black tie: Black and white with a splash of red
More about our inspiring keynote speaker
Beau Vernon
At just 23 years old, Beau Vernon’s life changed in an instant when a football accident left him a quadriplegic, unable to use his legs or hands. Rather than allowing that moment to define him, Beau chose to focus on what was still possible and has spent the years since pushing boundaries and redefining what resilience truly looks like. Growing up on Phillip Island, Beau was a talented young athlete and AFL prospect, but his journey since his injury has been even more remarkable. Today he is a Paralympic bronze medallist with the Australian wheelchair rugby team, a two-time national handcycling champion, and an accomplished adaptive surfer, golfer and kayaker. Away from sport, Beau is a father of three, a company director, and a respected leader in the community. We are excited to hear Beau share his powerful story and practical insights on mindset, resilience and perspective, and be inspired to embrace challenges and live life to its fullest.
About Smart Pups
Smart Pups Assistance Dogs is a Queensland-based charity dedicated to changing the lives of children living with autism, epilepsy, diabetes and other disabilities or medical conditions. Since 2011, Smart Pups has been breeding, training and placing highly skilled assistance dogs with families across Australia, providing practical support, increased independence and life-changing companionship.
Each Smart Pup is carefully matched and individually trained to meet the unique needs of their child. From providing safety for children who may wander, alerting to medical episodes, supporting emotional regulation and reducing anxiety, to helping build confidence and connection in everyday life, these incredible dogs offer support that extends to the entire family.
It costs approximately $50,000 to breed, raise and professionally train each Smart Pup before placement. As a not-for-profit organisation, Smart Pups relies on the generosity of donors, sponsors and community supporters to continue meeting the growing demand for assistance dogs.
For many families, a Smart Pup means the difference between isolation and inclusion, anxiety and confidence, limitation and possibility.
To learn more about our mission, impact and the families we support, visit:
🌐 https://smartpups.org.au
Together, we are changing lives, one paw at a time. 🐾
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
