How Wonder Paws Rescue turned a charity golf event into one of South Florida’s most heartfelt fundraisers.
Every golf tournament has its rituals: check-in lines, warm-up swings, banter over mulligans. But few begin with an open bar, a barbecue, and a crowd of players who know they’re not just here to chase birdies, they’re here to save lives. That’s the atmosphere Wonder Paws Rescue has cultivated with its annual “Par for the Paws” charity tournament, an event now entering its fifth year and growing in ambition, personality, and community impact.
Pembroke Lakes Golf and Racquet Club once again played host, but for returning players, the place often feels more like a reunion than a check-in station. By 11 a.m., golfers greeted volunteers who know them by name, snapping photos with rescue ambassadors, and swapping stories about the animals they’ve helped rehome. It’s a tone that sets this event apart from typical corporate charity outings; Wonder Paws has created something that blends competition with compassion in a way that feels effortless and genuinely heartfelt.
Founded by Patricia Lara and her daughter Paulina Claure, Wonder Paws Rescue has spent years inside the emotional trenches of animal rescue: pulling pets from desperate situations, navigating medical emergencies, and matching families with animals that need them most. More than 2,300 dogs and cats have found safety, care, and forever homes because this small but determined nonprofit refuses to see abandoned or abused animals as lost causes. Their tournament works because its mission is visible, tangible, and undeniably resonant.
When the 1 p.m. shotgun sent cars rolling across the course, players may have their minds on friendly competition, but the charitable purpose stays close at hand. A portion of the excitement came from the prize lineup: a $100,000 shootout for four participants, a $10,000 hole-in-one challenge, long drive competitions, specialty hole prizes, and a mysterious on-site putting contest that revealed a potential seven-night resort stay. Dealers who participate often find these events are not only fantastic networking opportunities but also the rare kind that make staff and customers feel proud to be part of the industry.
Wonder Paws understands how to weave joy into fundraising without diluting the seriousness of its mission. Complimentary beverages flow on the course, music drifts across the fairways, and volunteers move with a kind of practiced urgency whenever someone asks how their donation will be used. Tournament proceeds cover medical expenses: surgeries, treatments, emergency care costs that often determine whether an animal gets a second chance or not. This year, the event gained even more momentum thanks to an angel donor who pledged to match contributions up to $25,000.
By the time players stepped into the evening banquet at 6 p.m., the energy shifted into something celebratory and communal. A live DJ filled the room, raffle tickets fluttered from table to table, and the silent auction drew in seasoned bidders and first-timers alike. Items ranged from premium equipment to vacation packages, yet the most valuable takeaway for many attendees won’t what they won, it was the impact they’ve helped create.
For dealers, sponsors, and business partners, “Par for the Paws” is more than a philanthropic checkbox. It’s a reflection of how customers, employees, and communities increasingly gravitate toward companies that put effort behind their compassion. Supporting Wonder Paws Rescue signals that a dealership or business isn’t just selling carts or servicing vehicles; it’s contributing to the wellbeing of the region in a visible, measurable way. Events like these build goodwill that lasts longer than a sales cycle, and often create deeper customer loyalty by aligning a brand with causes people genuinely care about.
Wonder Paws Rescue continues to run entirely on donations and adoption fees. They receive no state or federal funding, so every sponsorship, every foursome registration, and every bid placed during the auction goes directly into rescue operations: food, medical care, transportation, foster supplies, and rehabilitation. Dealers looking to differentiate themselves in a competitive market have found events like this uniquely powerful: customers remember businesses that show up.
As the sun set on Pembroke Lakes the evening of the event, players packed their clubs, volunteers will hug each other with relief, and organizers did the mental math of another year’s fundraising. But somewhere in a foster home or veterinary clinic, an animal will receive care it would not have had the day before. That’s the true scoreboard of “Par for the Paws”—and it has a way of making every swing worth it.
