Westgate loves pets! Westgate Wags & Whiskers is a venture between two non-profit groups in the Westgate neighborhood: Westgate Neighbors Association and Friends of Westgate Park. All contributions are tax deductible and all proceeds beyond expenses and seed money for next year’s event will be donated to animal rescue and shelter groups.

FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATING OUR FURRY FRIENDS!

Sunday, September 10, 2023 in Westgate Park

Enclosed Shelter House / Noon–4:00 p.m. / Rain or Shine / 3271 Wicklow Road

COME PLAY WITH US!

The neighborhood of Westgate may be relatively small, but our residents’ love of animals is big and mighty. That love is what inspired us to create Westgate Wags & Whiskers.
 
In addition to our vendor walkways, visitors will find sponsored pet-friendly areas with lots to do for our furry guests, as well as games, contests, photo opportunities and even pet shelter representatives of both the 2- and 4-legged persuasion.
 
Westgate Wags & Whiskers will be publicized outside of the neighborhood and west side of Columbus. Our pack of volunteers are tugging at their leashes to spread the word well beyond Westgate’s borders, and brick & mortar sponsors and vendors will be offered counter cards and posters to display. We’ll do our best to sniff out attendees wherever we can find pets and their humans! Our first year goal for a good-weather festival day is 500 (2-legged guests).
 
This event, held in our treasured Westgate Park, is free for our guests. To honor our furry, four-legged friends, please note that all proceeds,* thanks to our sponsors and vendors, will go to pet and animal charities!
 
*The presenters, the Westgate Neighbors Association and Friends of Westgate Park, will use money from the event to cover expenses and seed money for next year’s Westgate Wags & Whiskers. But nothing more. Cross our hearts and swear to Dog.

If you are interesting in becoming a sponsor, please contact Mari Ann Binder Futty at 614-915-4023 or westgatewags@gmail.com.

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Westgate Wags & Whiskers is a venture between two nonprofit groups in the Westgate neighborhood: Westgate Neighbors Association and Friends of Westgate Park. Both are a 501(c)(3) with contributions being tax deductible. All proceeds, beyond expenses and seed money for next year’s event, will be donated to pet or animal-focused charities.

Good Dogs Get Rewards!
Main Sponsor & Areas Sponsors are all good dogs.

Good Dog Rewards include: Company name on advertising postcards, posters, t-shirts, and day-of schedule of events, activities and contests (if applicable). All of these sponsors will have their company name and/or logo on the Westgate Wags & Whiskers event page, as well as promoted to associated Facebook and Instagram pages.

MAIN SPONSORSHIP

TOP DOG – valued at $4000: This sponsorship includes all of the Good Dog Rewards. The Top Dog sponsor will also have their name and/or logo in larger print than other levels, just below the event name and presenters (Friends of Westgate Park and Westgate Neighbors Association). This sponsor will have a prominent location available to them at the event site. We will provide an outdoor grade vinyl banner that is sized appropriately for both the space and logo/design work provided. If needed, the Top Dog sponsor will be provided with one or more tents with tables and chairs.

Purchase Top Dog – $4000

AREA SPONSORSHIPS

These sponsorships include all of the Good Dog Rewards, plus prominent advertising and/or selling opportunities at the designated area throughout the Westgate Wags & Whiskers event.

RAINING CATS & DOGS MAIN STAGE – valued at $2,500: The main stage will be for announcements, and used throughout the event for contests and to award prizes to our furry visitors. We will provide an outdoor-grade vinyl banner that is sized appropriately for both the space and logo/design work provided. You may also give away or sell company swag/packaged treats and/or food samples at an area adjacent to the stage, and if desired, have space available within the designated vending area.

Purchase Raining Cats & Dogs Main Stage – $2,500

CHASING MY TAIL PLAYGROUND – valued at $2,500: This 5,000 square foot fenced-in area will be used throughout the day for racing and fetching games, and sniffing and making friends and free play between events. We will provide an outdoor-grade vinyl banner that is sized appropriately for both the space and logo/design work provided. This sponsor is also welcome to provide their own signage and/or banners in and around the playground fences. You may give or sell company swag/packaged treats and/or food samples in an adjacent area and/or if desired, have space available within the designated vending area.

Purchase Chasing My Tail Playground – $2,500
HOWL AT THE MOON BAR-K & WATERING HOLES – valued at $1,000: Our furry friends can wet their whistles here! The main Bar-K runs the length of the west side of the enclosed shelter house, is paved, and 8 feet wide/deep. A bar-k-tender will supervise the bowls, sized great and small, to keep the fresh water coming. Patrons will be offered a treat, in lieu of a bowl of peanuts. Two or three “satellite” Howl at the Moon Bar-K Watering Holes (bowls of fresh water) will be situated around the Wags & Whiskers area. The sponsor’s company name will be prominently placed at all locations; company swag/packaged treats and/or food samples may also be given out or sold by the sponsor at the main location, or within the designated vending area.
Purchase Howl at the Moon Bar-K & Watering Holes – $1,000

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS RAINBOW BRIDGE – valued at $1,000: This is a space where our 2-legged visitors can pause and reflect upon their departed pets. Visitors can walk across the bridge and write a message and post it on the rainbow to honor their angels. We will provide an outdoor-grade vinyl banner that is sized appropriately for both the space and logo/design work provided. The sponsor is encouraged to provide literature and freebies to visitors.

Purchase Forever in our Hearts Rainbow Bridge – $1,000

DON’T POOP ON OUR PARADE BAGGIE POSTS – valued at $750: Three posts with bags will be situated throughout the Westgate Wags & Whiskers area for 2-legged guests to clean up after their 4-legged bosses. We will provide an outdoor-grade vinyl signage that is sized appropriately for both the space and logo/design work provided. Each spot will be “marked” with a fire hydrant. If desired, space will also be available in the vending area for swag or sales.

Purchase Don’t Poop on our Parade Baggie Posts – $750

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOINING US?
Contact Mari Ann Binder Futty at 614-915-4023 or at westgatewags@gmail.com. Put “Wags & Whiskers” in the title of the email.

An invoice will be sent to you in an email. All invoices are securely processed through Stripe. If you are not paying online, please let us know if you need an invoice for payment.

These Westgate pets are patiently waiting! Or as they like to say “bow wow, meow, cluck cluck, purrrrr, grrrr, squawk, blub blub blub, bark, croak, yap, whine, woof, hiss, chirp, grunt, snort, buzz, ribbit…”
Patron Membership - $100
Adult (Individual) Membership - $20
Senior (Individual) Membership - $10
Family (Household) Membership - $25
Benefactor Membership - $250
Business Membership - $25

ARE YOU A BUSINESS MEMBER?
Consider an upgrade to the Patron level! Your business name will be displayed on our website.

Adult (Individual) Membership - $20
Senior (Individual) Membership - $10
Family (Household) Membership - $25
Business Membership - $25
Patron Membership - $100
Benefactor Membership - $250

ARE YOU A BUSINESS MEMBER?
Consider an upgrade to the Patron level! Your business name will be displayed on our website.

Westgate Neighborhood Scholarship

FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024

Applications accepted in March

The Westgate Neighbors Association Scholarship was established in 2015 as an extension of our mission to “help our community thrive”. The $1000 postsecondary education scholarship is funded by a portion of the proceeds from the Westgate Home & Garden Tour. It is awarded annually to a qualified resident of Westgate who contributes to the betterment of their community through their demonstrated service and leadership. While GPA and course selection are considered, the committee is focused more on the candidates’ involvement with their communities.

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APPLICANT MUST

  • Live within the boundaries of the Westgate neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio OR attend West High School. (Boundaries for the purpose of this scholarship are from the south side of West Broad Street to the the north side of Sullivant Avenue, and from the west side of South Hague Avenue to the west side of Demorest Road.)
  • Be a full-time student who will be attending a college or vocational school for the 2023-2024 academic year.

If it is determined by the scholarship committee that none of the applicants meet the eligibility requirements, or embody the standards by which the scholarship was established, we reserve the right not to award the scholarship for the current year.

  1. Complete the (interactive PDF) Application.
  2. Attach a current dated transcript signed by a school administrator or counselor.
  3. Attach two documents verifying your, or a parent or guardian’s Westgate address.
  4. Complete the section Honors / Achievement / Community Service / Leadership (include years participated, organization, activities).
  5. List three references we may contact, at least one of whom is to provide a Letter of Recommendation which is to be attached.
  6. Attach at least one Letter of Recommendation.
  7. Attach two essays.
  8. Complete Signature of Certification.

Submit all of the above to scholarship@westgateneighbors.org no later than Sunday, April 30, 2023 at midnight

  1. The scholarship recipient will be notified via contact information provided on the application form.
  2. The recipient will provide the committee a Letter of Acceptance from the designated postsecondary school.
  3. The recipient will be asked to attend the May 2023 WNA Community Meeting, at which they will be introduced and the award presented.
  4. Scholarship monies will be sent directly to the Financial Aid Office of the designated school, in August, after it is confirmed the student is officially enrolled for the fall semester.
Download the Interactive Scholarship Application
2022 Winner Said Barud
2020 Winner Martin Paul Susec
2019 Winner Maxwell Lee
2018 Winner Olivia Rowe
2017 Winner Erica Loughner
2016 Winner Molly Brumfield
2015 Winner Heather Corson

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