February 6, 2009 marks the third year in a row fig media has been involved with PAWS Chicago’s annual fundraiser, Animal Magnetism. I’ve been involved with PAWS Chicago for the last 2 years and lead the fig event team, which provided the music and photography for the evening. Fig photographers, Brian Carey and Melissa Martens, created a scene where guests had their pictures taken with their pets. With fig’s unique artistic edge, the photos are guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind keepers that will be hanging on guests’ walls for years. Myself and Brent C. Rolland, were on the wheels of steel, getting the crowd dancing with an eclectic mix ranging from classic rock to hip-hop and pop. The last two years, we’ve also provided projection services, showing photography taken during the night while incorporating a logo reel and live auction items. This year, I decided to do things a little different. Instead of projecting the photography, I mixed in music videos and subtle effects behind the PAWS logo during dancing. This added a more club-like feel for dancing, which fit in nicely with young crowd.
When I heard about how this no-kill animal shelter was making a huge difference in the Chicago area, and I wanted to know what I could do to contribute. At first, it was just playing music at their events. As my relationship with PAWS grew, I became more involved in the organization as a whole. I’ve volunteered at their shelter, ran with their 2008 Chicago Marathon team, participate in their professional board, and coordinate with them on their events. It’s really hard for me to tell them “no.” They have an amazing program and are making a big impact in the number of animals killed due to homelessness. I feel honored to be part of their organization and for fig to have had such a strong relationship with them.
–Jonathan Hood, operations manager, resident artist
