On Wednesday evening, Sept. 21 and all day Thursday, Sept. 22, MIRA Foundation USA will be the beneficiary of three special fundraisers organized through the tireless efforts of five women who have "adopted" MIRA as part of a project requirement for graduation from the Chamber's Moore County Leadership Institute.

One of the leaders of the project, Lisa Fagan, business services officer at BB&T Bank, says, "We wanted to do something different and special in our community, and children, dogs, and good food were at the top of the list, so 'Drinks for Devon" and 'Dining with Guide Dogs' came out of our brainstorming efforts. Then Donna Gephart, who is in our MCLI group and is affiliated with Moore County Schools, approached Dr. Purser and persuaded her to sponsor a 'Denim for Dogs' day on Sept. 22, as well. We are delighted by the generous response from everyone in the community, and we look forward to meeting our friends out and about on Sept. 21 and 22 as we support the great work of MIRA USA."

On Wednesday evening, a celebrity bartending event, hosted by Mark Elliott and Andy Heisinger at the Sly Fox Pub in Southern Pines, will showcase the behind-the-bar talents of Southern Pines Mayor Mike Haney, together with morning radio host Rich Rushforth of STAR 102.5, David Woronoff, publisher of The Pilot, and Beth Carpenter from The Country Bookshop.

Designated as "Drinks for Devon," in honor of MIRA's celebrity guide dog belonging to MIRA founder Bob Baillie, the evening starts at 6 p.m. and goes until the celebrities behind the bar are worn out.

"Rumor has it that all four have been practicing their pouring techniques, while Devon himself will be on hand to greet those in attendance," says Fagan.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, 17 area restaurants have agreed to participate in the inaugural "Dining for Guide Dogs" by committing to donate from between 10 percent and 20 percent of proceeds from designated meals to MIRA.

Led by the 20 percent trio of the Ice Cream Parlor (20 percent all day), Ashten's (20 percent dinner), and Ruby Tuesday's (20 percent all day), other participants include the 15 percent group of Restaurant 195 (lunch), Lula's Cafe (lunch), Hickory Tavern (lunch), Vito's (dinner), and Jersey Mike's (lunch),followed by Squire's Pub, The Bell Tree, LobSteer Inn, Moe's, Rhett's, Chilis, The Marketplace, Table on the Green (all day) and Beefeater's (dinner) at 10 percent.

MIRA's executive director, Beth Daniels, is delighted with the prospects for both events.

"When Peggy Manuel from the MCLI group first contacted us this past summer about creating a fundraiser for MIRA we were thrilled, and now we have a pair ready to launch," she says. "Between the months of September through June, we hold fundraisers two, and sometimes three times per month, so when someone approaches us with an idea and offers to organize it, we are behind them 150 percent. We are a very small office, and to have this kind of support from such a terrific group of dynamic and highly organized women has been a real blessing for MIRA. On behalf of everyone at the MIRA Foundation, I would like to thank Kimberly Daniels (Country Bookshop), Lisa Fagan (BB&T), Donna Gephart (Moore County Schools), Ginny Kelly (PineStraw), and Peggy Manuel (Moore County Chamber of Commerce)."

MIRA USA is a national foundation based in Aberdeen, and is the only organization in the United States dedicated to providing guide dogs, free of charge, to children and youth between the ages of 11-16. This past July they paired six students with dogs, including two from Moore County.

The MIRA fundraisers "Drinks for Devon" and "Dining for Guide Dogs" are being sponsored by Branch Banking and Trust, First Bank, and The Pilot.

For more information, visit the MIRA website at www.mirausa.org.