Each November, Halifax Humane Society’s Fur Ball shines as one of Volusia County’s most anticipated evenings; and it grows more spectacular each year. In 2025, the event promises to be unforgettable, led by CEO Sean Hawkins and headlined by CNN’s Hero of the Year, Dr. Kwane Stewart. Glamour meets purpose at "Barkfest at Tiffany’s", this year’s theme- arriving just as the season of gratitude begins.
What began 16 years ago as a fun ugly sweater party has evolved into a signature gala, now attracting 600 supporters. “We’ve grown it from that to a glamorous evening in the Ocean Center ballroom,” says Hawkins. Along the way, the Fur Ball has welcomed special guests whose hearts for animals match the cause. Last year’s guest, Brandon McMillan of CBS’s Lucky Dog, helped set a new standard for local giving. This year, the spotlight turns to Dr. Kwane Stewart, co-founder of Project Street Vet, whose work embodies both compassion and urgency.
Hawkins first met Stewart 13 years ago while producing the Hero Dog Awards for the American Humane Association, just as Project Street Vet was beginning. He has followed Stewart’s work ever since and describes himself as a longtime fan. When Stewart was nominated for the CNN Hero Award, Hawkins encouraged others to support him, and he says having Stewart at this year’s Fur Ball feels both timely and meaningful.
That invitation also reflects where Halifax Humane Society is headed. Hawkins points to the organization’s next chapter — the launch of a community veterinary clinic designed to keep pets with their families regardless of income. For him, the connection is clear: Dr. Kwane has shown on a national stage what Halifax Humane is working to deliver locally. By offering accessible veterinary care, the society hopes to prevent animals from being surrendered simply because families can’t afford medical bills.
That mission resonates deeply with Stewart. Known as “The Street Vet,” he has spent more than a decade walking sidewalks, visiting encampments, and sitting on curbs with people who are unhoused, offering care to the animals that are often their only companions. He has witnessed the fierce loyalty of those who will forgo shelter or food if it means keeping their pets. “They love their pets with a kind of devotion most of us can’t imagine,” Stewart says. “Sometimes, that animal is all they have left in the world.” His work is a reminder that the bond between people and pets transcends circumstance, and that keeping them together is an act of both mercy and justice.
The impact of the Fur Ball stretches far beyond one glamorous evening. Each ticket sold and each sponsorship pledged helps fund programs that touch more than 15,000 animals every year — from adoption and foster services to spay/neuter initiatives and humane education. It also fuels Halifax Humane Society’s efforts to offer resources that keep families intact, such as affordable veterinary care and guidance for pet owners navigating hardship. “The Fur Ball is where our community shows what’s possible when compassion takes the lead,” Hawkins says. “It’s glamorous, yes, but it’s also lifesaving.”
Guests will still feel the sparkle. They’ll step onto a Hollywood-style red carpet before entering a ballroom inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany’s — chic black dresses, pearls, and Audrey Hepburn elegance. The evening includes fine dining, live entertainment, and spirited auctions, all framed by a shared belief that animals and people belong together.
For Stewart, being named CNN’s Hero of the Year was a milestone, but it is the work itself that defines him. He has built Project Street Vet into a grassroots movement, supported by volunteers and veterinarians eager to replicate the model in their own cities. What keeps him going, he says, are the quiet moments — kneeling beside a dog on a sidewalk, listening to the stories of people who may have lost everything else but refuse to give up their pets.
That devotion continues to shape his philosophy. “Kindness can take many forms,” Stewart says. “It doesn’t have to be transactional. It can just be an exchange of humanity.” He urges communities to find simple ways to help — whether that’s supporting a humane society, starting a conversation with someone in need, or sponsoring veterinary care through a local clinic. The message is as practical as it is hopeful: small gestures, multiplied, keep families and pets together.
As Hawkins explains, “That’s the purpose of the Fur Ball. We can get dressed up for an evening and have our best supporters together to hear the most exciting updates on the organization, share our future plans, and present a Humanitarian of the Year Award.” In the end, glamour meets purpose once more, as the generosity of the community advances Halifax Humane Society’s mission to protect animals and support the people who love them — including those who are unhoused and often have little else. With Dr. Kwane Stewart lending his voice and his heart, the Fur Ball becomes more than a gala; it is a night where compassion takes center stage.