San Diego CA—  “Holli”day…Anyday!, dedicated exclusively to support and raise awareness for some of its favorite Southern California charities, is gearing up for the Shelter to Soldier 6th Annual “Be the Light Gala” on August 25, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla.
The 200 guests attending this heartwarming gala will also have the opportunity to bid on two curated silent auction experiences championed by “Holli”day…Anyday!
Holli’s innovative culinary and entertaining skills are highlighted weekly on her YouTube cooking show, Holli’s Easy Breezy Kitchen.
First on the silent auction roster is an authentic Tuscan-style pizza party for four guests at Holli’s Rancho Santa Fe estate for a filming episode of Holli’s Easy Breezy Kitchen valued at $800.00
Next going to the highest bidder is a sought-after “Guided Tequila Tasting” from award-winning spirits creator, Nobleza Azul Tequila valued at $750.00. Holli will welcome the auction winner and three of their guests at her home where they will sample Nobleza’s blends of Blanco, Anejo, and Reposado during a special filming of Holli’s Easy Breezy Kitchen. Holli will enhance this pairing with her signature dishes.
“Holli”day…Anyday! financially supports cause-worthy nonprofits with silent or live auction items built around experiences,” Holli said. “Shelter to Soldier will receive funds from the auction itself, and the winner will have the incredible opportunity to not only support this nonprofit but also be in an episode of Holli’s Easy Breezy Kitchen.”
Everyone wins with “Holli”day…Anyday! and that’s what philanthropy is all about.
For those unable to secure a “Holli”day…Anyday! auction win, guests will find inside their swag bags a “Holli”day…Anyday! donation: Wine bottle shaped, organic and locally made carob-vanilla doggy treats named after her English Bulldog, Miss Lulu’s Tipsy Treats.
“When I first heard about Shelter to Soldier, I thought, ‘Wow, how great, we can save two lives at a time,’” said Holli, who co-chaired the 2017 gala and hosted a soiree at her home for Shelter to Soldier donors.
Saving the life of a shelter dog and helping a veteran in need was such an emotionally moving concept that Holli set her sights on how she could help raise more awareness and funds for her handpicked list of nonprofits she supports, including Shelter to Soldier – and “Holli”day…Anyday! was the answer.
According to Kyrie Bloem, co-founder and director of operations of Shelter to Soldier, the nonprofit was established in 2012 and born from a passion for rescuing dogs and the overwhelming need of veterans for psychiatric service animals not funded by Veterans Affairs (VA). The nonprofit is headquartered in Oceanside, CA.
“On average, 20 veterans and 1 active duty military personnel lose their lives to suicide every day. It is estimated that 1 in 5 veterans returning from combat duty in the OIF/O EF population that we serve return with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS),” she said. “We know the healing impact that service dogs provide for this population, and we knew that we could help. Our purpose is two-fold: Saving the life of a dog from a shelter with an otherwise uncertain future and saving the life of a veteran suffering from the perils of mental injury associated with combat.”
To date, Shelter to Soldier has successfully trained and placed 16 service dogs and one emotional support dog with veteran handlers.
“Our goal is to place eight more service dogs this year,” Kyrie said. “With the support of community partners like Holli Lienau, our elite service dog training program continues to save the lives of dogs with an otherwise uncertain future and the lives of veterans from potential suicide ideation and risk.”

About “Holli”day…Anyday!

“Holli”day…Anyday is a one-of-kind philanthropic platform designed to support select Southern California nonprofits by playing and paying it forward with food, fun, and friends. Led by Rancho Santa Fe philanthropist Holli Lienau, “Holli”day…Anyday provides nonprofits with live and silent auction items around culinary innovation and curating experiences. To learn more about “Holli”day…Anyday, please visit www.HolliDayAnyday.com.

About Shelter to Soldier

Shelter to Soldier is a CA 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or other injuries associated with traumatic service experiences. Founder and Training Director of Specialty Dog Training and Shelter to Soldier, Graham Bloem, has been training dogs professionally for more than fourteen years. He has a true understanding of dog behavior and is passionate about animal rescue and giving back to the men and women in uniform who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms. Graham is the proud recipient of the 10News Leadership and CBS 8 Change It Up Award. Shelter to Soldier is a gold participant of GuideStar and accredited by the Patriot’s Initiative. www.sheltertosoldier.org.