Some events are about more than having a good time. They're about making a difference. And when you combine an incredible cause, generous guests, a few four-legged friends, and a whole lot of laughter, something pretty special happens.
On October 10, 2026, Sunflower Photo Booths returned for our second year at the Alex's Safe Place Charity Auction, held inside the Red Barn at the Washington State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Puyallup, Washington.
The evening brought together a community of supporters for an unforgettable night of entertainment, generosity, and fundraising.
The result? An incredible $77,000 raised to support the mission of Alex's Safe Place!
We were honored to contribute a little extra fun to the celebration with a custom photo booth experience sponsored by Tito's Handmade Vodka and the Brown family's Do Epic Shit Wine.
And yes, we may have been tempted to bid on more than a few auction items ourselves.
A Mission Built on Love, Loss & Healing
At the heart of the evening was Alex's Safe Place, a remarkable nonprofit dedicated to bringing healing, hope, and unconditional love to people through their connection with animals.
The organization was founded by Patti Danner following the devastating loss of her son, Alex. During her grief, Patti found comfort in her horse, Moki, whose quiet companionship helped her through one of the most difficult periods of her life.
That experience inspired a mission to share the healing power of animals with others experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, and emotional challenges.
Today, Alex's Safe Place provides opportunities for people, especially young people, to build meaningful connections with animals while learning empathy, compassion, and kindness. These experiences are provided at no cost, making community support and fundraising events essential to continuing the organization's work. It's a beautiful reminder that sometimes the greatest comfort comes without a single word.
Meet Jeffy
Meet Harry & Jeffy: The Evening's Four-Legged VIPs
One of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity for guests to meet two very special representatives of Alex's Safe Place: Harry and Jeffy.
The pair joined the festivities during cocktail hour, giving attendees an opportunity to connect with the animals at the heart of the organization's mission.
Jeffy, a miniature donkey, is one of the sanctuary's beloved residents.
Their appearance was a wonderful reminder of exactly what everyone had gathered to support.
After all, it's one thing to hear about an organization's mission. It's another to meet some of the animals whose lives are part of that story.
And we're pretty sure Harry and Jeffy didn't have to work nearly as hard as the rest of us to win over the crowd!
A Night of Generosity, Laughter & Competitive Bidding
The Red Barn at the Washington State Fairgrounds provided the setting for an evening filled with entertainment and opportunities to give. Guests enjoyed cocktail hour, dinner, silent auction bidding, and a lively program led by auctioneer Jeremy Hamel. The evening also included a Heads or Tails game, a dessert dash, a live auction, and an emotional paddle raise supporting the organization's ongoing work. Behind the scenes, Jordan Moll Events coordinated the celebration and created the event's beautiful décor and editable floral arrangements. Jordan and her team helped transform the venue into a welcoming setting where guests could enjoy themselves while keeping the evening's important mission front and center.
And then there were the auction items. We'll admit, one of the hardest parts of working a charity auction is remembering that we're there to provide entertainment—not to buy everything! There's something about a room full of generous people bidding on incredible experiences that makes you think, "Well, technically, if I win, I'm helping the animals..."
It's a dangerous line of reasoning when you're surrounded by so many tempting auction packages. Fortunately, every raised paddle meant more support for Alex's Safe Place.
Patti and friends.
A Wildly Fun Photo Booth Experience
For our second year supporting the auction, we wanted our photo booth to reflect the playful personality of the evening. We brought our professional DSLR photo booth, paired with a shimmering Gold Sparkles backdrop and an assortment of entertaining props. Animal-inspired accessories were a natural fit for the fundraiser, while oversized glasses, cowboy props, and colorful accessories gave guests plenty of opportunities to show off their personalities. Throughout the evening, guests stepped in with friends, family, and fellow supporters to capture their own memories of the celebration.
With professional lighting, instant photo sharing, and unlimited printed keepsakes, everyone had an opportunity to take home a little piece of the evening. For us, that's what makes a photo booth such a natural addition to a charity auction. It gives guests something fun to do between bidding, dinner, and the evening's program while creating another opportunity for people to connect. And when the event is supporting such an important cause, those moments feel even more meaningful.
Tito’s and Browne Family Vineyards sponsorship.
A Photo Booth Made Possible by Community Sponsors
One of our favorite details from this year's event was the sponsorship provided by Tito's Handmade Vodka and the Brown family's Do Epic Shit Wine. Both sponsors were featured directly on the printed photo designs, giving guests a memorable keepsake that also recognized the businesses and families supporting the fundraiser. It's a great example of how sponsorships can create value beyond traditional signage or program advertisements.
Every time a guest stepped into the photo booth and received a printed photograph, the sponsors became part of that memory. And unlike a sign that disappears when the event ends, those photographs often find their way onto refrigerators, desks, and into memory boxes. For nonprofit organizations planning charity auctions in Puyallup, Tacoma, or Greater Seattle, a sponsored photo booth can be an effective way to combine guest entertainment with meaningful sponsor recognition.
We're grateful to Tito's Handmade Vodka and the Brown family for helping make this experience possible.
The People Behind an Incredible Evening
Events like the Alex's Safe Place Auction don't happen without a tremendous amount of planning, coordination, and generosity. We were fortunate to work alongside a wonderful group of event professionals who helped bring the evening together.
Event Planning, Design & Florals: Jordan Moll Events
Jordan Moll and her team handled event coordination, décor, and floral design, creating a polished and welcoming atmosphere for the evening.
Catering & Bar: Georgio's Catering
The Tacoma-based catering team provided food and bar service, helping keep guests well cared for throughout the celebration.
Audio & Visual Production: Bandstand Music
Laird Gonter and the Bandstand Music team supported the evening's audio and visual production.
Event Rentals & Linens: CORT Party Rental
CORT helped complete the event setting with rentals and linens.
Auctioneer: Jeremy Hamel
Jeremy kept the auction moving and helped bring energy to the fundraising program.
Photo Booth Entertainment: Sunflower Photo Booths
And of course, we were there to capture the smiles, laughter, and occasional questionable prop decisions!
$77,000 Reasons to Celebrate
By the end of the evening, the Alex's Safe Place Auction had raised an incredible $77,000. That generosity helps support the organization's animals, their care, and the programs that bring people together with animals for healing and connection. For a nonprofit built around compassion and unconditional love, seeing a community come together with that level of support is something truly special. As a locally owned photo booth company serving Puyallup, Tacoma, Seattle, and the surrounding Puget Sound region, we're grateful for opportunities to support organizations making a meaningful difference close to home.
Being invited back for a second year was an honor. Watching the community rally around Alex's Safe Place made it even better.
A special thank-you also goes to Patti Danner, Vilde Aker, and the dedicated volunteers and supporters who make Alex's Safe Place possible.
We can't wait to see what next year brings. Although someone may need to hide our bidding paddle.
Bringing More Than Photos to Your Next Fundraiser
At Sunflower Photo Booths, we believe a memorable fundraising event should create meaningful experiences for guests while helping organizations connect with their supporters. Whether it's a charity auction, nonprofit gala, school fundraiser, or community celebration, we offer customized photo booth experiences designed to complement your event.
From professional photography and instant prints to custom branding and sponsor recognition, our goal is to create something guests genuinely enjoy—and remember long after the evening ends. Planning a fundraising event in Puyallup, Tacoma, Seattle, or the surrounding Puget Sound area?
Let's create a guest experience that makes an impact.
And if you'd like to support the incredible work of Alex's Safe Place, visit their website to learn more about donating, volunteering, or sponsoring one of their animals.
