Nashville, TN — Nashville Humane Association announced today that fashion designers Any Old Iron and Laura Citron will headline the 37th annual Cause for Paws fundraiser on Sept. 17 at Belle Meade Country Club. Country music legend Emmylou Harris will be the recipient of the Julia Colton Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare at the event, recognizing her decades of animal advocacy. and care as the founder of Bonaparte’s Retreat.
Cause for Paws, a signature fundraiser of Nashville Humane Association, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Belle Meade Country Club and will feature a silent auction, a puppy play area with adoptable dogs from NHA, pop-up shops, an al fresco lunch, and a runway show from Any Old Iron and Laura Citron. The event will be co-chaired by Nancy Floyd and Jay Joyner. Tickets begin at $300 and are available now at nashvillehumane.org/causeforpaws.
“We are thrilled to showcase the fashions of two incredibly talented Nashville-based designers at this year’s Cause for Paws,” says Laura Baker, executive director of NHA. “Any Old Iron and Laura Citron are known for fabulous, over-the-top, glamorous designs, and we can’t wait to see the new collections they unveil at this show. We are equally honored to recognize another remarkable Nashville talent at the event: the incomparable Emmylou Harris. Emmylou is a staunch advocate for animals, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Julia Colton Award than her. This event raises crucial funds that allow us to serve animals and families across Middle Tennessee, and we are so grateful for the overwhelming community support.”
Any Old Iron, the brainchild of designer and stylist Andrew Clancey, stands as a testament to the seamless fusion of tradition and contemporary style. Founded in New York City in 2009, Any Old Iron relocated its headquarters to Nashville in 2014. Any Old Iron's clientele includes Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Kate Bosworth, Taylor Swift, Elton John, Miranda Lambert, Cardi B, and the Jonas Brothers among many others.
Laura Citron is a fashion label celebrating maximalist glamour, based in Nashville since 2016. Connecting the past and the present, the label evokes eclectic nostalgia of decades past with a reimagined vision for a modern world. Her designs have been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Grazia, L’Officiel, Rolling Stone, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journaland have been seen on numerous red carpets and award show stages on notable musicians including Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Lauren Alaina, Jennifer Nettles, and Greta Van Fleet, among others.
"We’re honored to support such an incredible cause through fashion," said Clancey and Citron. "Combining creativity with compassion is what this event is all about, and we can’t wait to showcase our designs in support of Nashville Humane Association.”
Since 1995, the Julia Colton Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare has been given annually, in honor of longtime NHA supporter Julia Colton, to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to the welfare of animals throughout Middle Tennessee. This year, Emmylou Harris will be recognized for her work with Bonaparte’s Retreat. Founded by Harris in 2004, Bonaparte’s Retreat is a small fosterbased, nonprofit dog rescue organization that focuses on the neglected and forgotten — senior dogs, large dogs, or dogs in need of imminent medical care or surgery.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this award from Nashville Humane Association,” says Emmylou Harris. “They are the gold standard for animal welfare organizations in Middle Tennessee, and they’ve been a wonderful partner, ally and resource for Bonaparte’s Retreat since we began. Serving animals can be both incredibly rewarding and emotionally taxing, and I’m grateful to have the support and recognition of NHA as we continue this vital work.”
General admission tickets to Cause for Paws are available now for $300 each and a limited number of VIP tickets, which include premium seating and a VIP gift bag, are available for $400 each at nashvillehumane.org/causeforpaws. Cause for Paws is one of Nashville Humane Association’s signature fundraisers, bringing in critical funds to support NHA’s mission to be a safe haven for at-risk, homeless and adoptable pets.
ABOUT NASHVILLE HUMANE ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1946, Nashville Humane Association (NHA) is more than a shelter. As an independent, gift-supported 501(c)(3), NHA helps thousands of pets find loving homes each year while working to keep animals healthy, safe, and with their families across Middle Tennessee. The organization is committed to humane education, reducing pet overpopulation, and maintaining its 98% annual save rate. In addition to pet adoptions, NHA offers low-cost vaccine and spay/neuter clinics, the city’s first 24-hour microchip scanner, a pet food bank, foster care opportunities, and educational resources for pet owners and the broader community. The shelter is located in west Nashville at 213 Oceola Avenue, and can be found online at nashvillehumane.org as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
###
