Top Rail Fence Naperville proudly sponsored the DuPage Animal Friends Furever Friends Gala, donating an Ultimate Bears Tailgate Package for the silent auction raffle. Our package and one other raised just over $10,000, helping the gala reach an incredible $289,000 total for animals in need.
At Top Rail Fence Naperville, we build fences. But ask anyone on our team what those fences really do, and you'll hear a different answer. They keep dogs safe in the backyard. They give cats a place to lounge in the sun. They give families peace of mind knowing their pets can roam, play, and rest without worry.
We believe every pet deserves a safe place to call home. That belief is the reason we wanted to give back—not just to the homeowners we serve, but to the animals who don't yet have a home of their own. This spring, we found the perfect way to do exactly that.
This post shares the story of our first community sponsorship: how we got involved with the DuPage Animal Friends Furever Friends Gala, what we donated, and the impact our contribution made. We hope it inspires you to consider how your own business or family can support animals in your area.
More than fences: Our commitment to the community
Fencing is our trade, but service is our purpose. Every day, we help families in Naperville and the surrounding area create safe, happy spaces for the people and pets they love. A well-built fence is more than posts and panels—it's a boundary that lets a dog sprint, dig, and chase a ball without ever leaving home.
That same idea drives our community work. We want to support the places that give animals a second chance, and we want to do it close to home. When we learned about the work of DuPage Animal Friends, the connection felt natural. They protect and care for the very animals we hope will one day enjoy a safe yard of their own.
So when the opportunity came to support their biggest event of the year, we said yes.
What is the DuPage Animal Friends Furever Friends Gala?
The Furever Friends Gala is the signature fundraising event for DuPage Animal Friends, a nonprofit that supports the animals served by DuPage County Animal Services. Held on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, this year's gala carried special meaning—it celebrated 20 years of saving lives together.
The evening brought together animal lovers from across the area for a night of dinner, entertainment, and giving. Guests enjoyed:
- Silent and live auctions featuring exclusive items and experiences
- A curated dinner with signature drinks
- Inspiring stories of rescue, hope, and second chances
Every bid placed and every dollar raised goes directly toward care, shelter, and support for animals on their journey to furever homes. For us, it was the ideal place to make our first community sponsorship count.
Our donation: The Ultimate Bears Tailgate Package
We wanted to contribute something that would get people excited—and bidding. For a room full of Chicago sports fans, the answer was easy.
We donated the Ultimate Bears Tailgate Package, headlined by two tickets to one of the most anticipated matchups of the season: the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026. There's no rivalry quite like Bears-Packers, and the chance to see it live on a holiday made the package a standout in the silent auction raffle.
This was our first time donating to an event like this, and watching guests get fired up over the prize made the experience even more rewarding. A great cause, a great game, and a great crowd—it was a perfect fit.
The impact: Over $10,000 raised from the raffle
Two packages were raffled at the gala, including ours. Together, those two packages raised just over $10,000 for DuPage Animal Friends. To know that a tailgate experience could translate into real care for animals in need made every bit of effort worthwhile.
The bigger picture was even more remarkable. In total, the 2026 Furever Friends Gala raised $289,000 for the animals of DuPage County. That money funds shelter, medical care, enrichment, and the daily work of giving pets a second chance at love. We're proud that our package played a small part in such a meaningful result.
Going further: Supporting the Amazon Wish List
For us, the gala was a beginning, not an endpoint. We want our support to continue well beyond a single night.
That's why we're also planning to give through the DuPage Animal Friends Amazon Wish List, a simple way to send much-needed supplies directly to the shelter. The organization maintains several lists covering everything from general supplies to dog and cat enrichment items. It's an easy, practical way to keep helping the animals who are still waiting for a home.
If you'd like to join us, you can shop the wish list and have items shipped straight to the shelter. Every donation, large or small, makes a difference.
Our promise to the community and the pets in it
This was our first community sponsorship, and it won't be our last. Supporting the Furever Friends Gala reminded us why we do what we do: helping create safe, happy spaces for pets and the people who love them.
We're grateful to DuPage Animal Friends for the chance to be part of their 20th anniversary celebration, and we're inspired by everyone who gave so generously. As we look ahead, we remain committed to building more than fences—we're building a community where every pet has a safe place to call home.
If you're a fellow business owner or animal lover in the Naperville area, we encourage you to find your own way to give back. Whether it's sponsoring an event, donating an auction item, or shopping a shelter's wish list, your support helps animals in need find their furever home.
And if your own furry friend could use a safe space to run, play, and explore right in your backyard, we're here to help with that too. Schedule a free estimate with Top Rail Fence Naperville today, and let's build a space your pet will love—because every animal deserves a place to call home.
