Cyndi Lauper joined Ariana DeBose, Darren Criss and Bernadette Peters at a New York charity gala that raised over $750,000 for animal rescue and other nonprofits, taking the event's two-year total past $1.2 million

Cyndi Lauper, Ariana DeBose, Darren Criss and Bernadette Peters came together at the 2026 Fetch Pet Gala in New York City, turning a night of music and theatre into a major fundraising effort for animal rescue. The event, hosted by Fetch Pet Insurance at The Carlyle Hotel, raised more than $750,000 for four nonprofits, bringing the gala’s two-year total to more than $1.2 million, according to PR Newswire.The evening was built around the idea that pets deserve more than a photo opportunity. It combined live performances, a green carpet featuring adoptable dogs and a push to connect shelter animals with families who can give them a permanent home.A night of performance and purposeThe 2026 Fetch Pet Gala featured performances from Tony and Academy Award winners Bernadette Peters, Darren Criss and Ariana DeBose, along with a surprise appearance by Cyndi Lauper. The event was hosted by Fetch Pet Insurance and sponsored by SATELLAI, an AI-powered pet wellbeing company.The gala’s purpose was clear from the start. It brought together pet industry leaders, animal welfare advocates and celebrity guests for an evening that celebrated the human-animal bond while raising money for pets in need.The $750,000 raised at this year’s event will support four organisations: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Barks, Wags and Walks, and North Shore Animal League America.The two-year totalThe 2026 gala was the second annual Fetch Pet Gala, and its fundraising total pushed the event’s cumulative impact past $1.2 million in just two years. Paul Guyardo, president and chief executive of Fetch Pet Insurance, said the star power of the gala is what has made that possible.He described the organisations supported by the gala as literally saving lives and delivering meaningful impact for pets in need. That framing reflects the event’s broader mission, which goes beyond a single night of entertainment.The two-year total is a sign that the gala is building momentum. What began as a one-night fundraiser is now establishing itself as a recurring platform for animal welfare advocacy in New York.Adoptable dogs took the spotlightOne of the most visible parts of the evening was the presence of adoptable dogs from North Shore Animal League America, who wore SATELLAI Collar Go devices on the green carpet. The dogs were photographed ahead of the gala in a professional shoot by Stronger Shot, a nationwide initiative that uses photography and storytelling to help shelter pets find homes.Adam Goldberg, founder of Stronger Shot, said the goal was to help people see shelter pets for who they really are, beyond their circumstances. Seeing the dogs go from a shelter photo session to the gala’s green carpet, he said, showed what can happen when brands come together to make adoption more visible and impactful.The collaboration also extended beyond the event itself. SATELLAI is giving five pet parents who adopt a dog from North Shore Animal League America a complimentary Collar Go device, extending the gala’s mission into the weeks and months after adoption.What SATELLAI brought to the tableSATELLAI, founded by pet lovers including members of the founding team whose own experiences with beloved pets shaped the company’s mission, builds technology to help people better understand and care for their pets. The company’s focus is on pet wellbeing, combining AI, smart wearables, sensors, positioning and connectivity to turn everyday pet data into insights about behavior, activity and wellbeing.Mark Mao, founder and chief executive of SATELLAI, said the company was proud to extend its mission beyond the gala by providing Collar Go devices to families adopting dogs from North Shore Animal League America. He described the event as a way to bring the pet community together around the human-animal bond.The company’s involvement shows how a tech brand can use a charity gala to do more than promote a product. By tying its devices to real adoption outcomes, SATELLAI made its sponsorship part of the solution rather than just part of the scenery.The four nonprofits supportedThe $750,000 raised at the 2026 gala will be split among four organisations. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supports people in the performing arts community facing health crises, while Broadway Barks focuses on animal adoption and welfare.Wags and Walks is a rescue organisation that places dogs and cats in permanent homes, and North Shore Animal League America is one of the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organisations in the country. Together, the four groups represent a mix of animal welfare and human-focused causes.That mix reflects the gala’s broader identity. While the evening is centred on pets, it also draws on the performing arts community to raise money for causes that matter to its audience.A growing platform for animal welfareThe Fetch Pet Gala is still young, but its first two years have already produced more than $1.2 million in donations. The 2026 event showed that the format can bring together celebrity performances, corporate sponsorship and direct action on pet adoption.For Cyndi Lauper, Ariana DeBose, Darren Criss and Bernadette Peters, the gala was a chance to use their visibility for a cause that goes beyond the stage. For the dogs featured on the green carpet, it was a chance to be seen, photographed and potentially adopted.The event’s growing total suggests that the formula is working. A night of music and theatre, paired with real-world adoption support, has become a meaningful force for animal rescue in New York.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.