Boygrim members, Seth Taylor, Isaac Quiroz, Vincent Bombolo and Jack Friedberg performed their original songs throughout their set during the Benefit Concert at the Pointe on Nov. 7. Rehansa Kulatilleke | Long Beach Current
The American Marketing Association of Long Beach State hosted its annual benefit concert in support of the nonprofit organization WAGS Pet Adoption on Friday, Nov. 7.
With 331 chapters nationwide, the American Marketing Association of CSULB is ranked in the top 15 in the nation.
With programs such as student-led internships and student-to-student mentorship, the American Marketing Association has been successful in helping members bridge the gap between learning skills and applying them in the community.
For Lizbeth Ruano, fourth-year marketing major and director of Agency 241, demonstrating connections developed at AMA while helping WAGS is meaningful to her and the team.
“We want to support the pups always and forever, so it’s super exciting to execute this today,” Ruano said.
Through the event, Ruano hopes WAGS gets community support, not just through funding but through community exposure to the animal-centered nonprofit and the work they do.
Located in Westminster, WAGS Pet Adoption also serves Seal Beach and Stanton, where they take care of around 3,000 animals every year.
“We are a non-profit, so any resources we can get from the community monetary or otherwise is amazing,” Lisa Isbell, dog foster coordinator for WAGS, said.
Beyond funding, both Ruano and Isbell emphasized the importance of visibility and awareness. Being a small shelter, Isbell shared that many in the community don’t realize WAGS exists.
The Glendale Dance Team was among the many performers who joined the benefit concert in support of the WAGS Pet Adoption on Nov. 7 at The Pointe Conference Center. Rehansa Kulatilleke | Long Beach Current
WAGS is a “high save shelter,” meaning that they don’t euthanize animals for the purposes of space.
“We need people in the community to come in and be willing to volunteer, foster dogs and cats so that we can continue working on that vision of saving every healthy animal,” Isbell said.
Third-year marketing major and AMA President Sabrina Chin smiled as she remembered how WAGS was ultimately chosen as a partner for the event.
While working as a marketing and fan engagement intern for the CSULB athletics department, she saw a couple walking a German shepherd wearing an orange vest that read, “Adopt me.”
“We were searching high and wide for something that kind of felt right for us,” Chin said.
After speaking with the couple, she learned about different ways the community can engage with animal shelters, such as taking dogs out for the day or helping with shelter cleanups.
Chin has been planning the event since the summer and finally got to experience the end results of her hard work on Friday. While raising money was important, she felt the most joy in seeing the happy faces and support for the animals.
“To see how much help we can give them and the hope in their eyes is really nice to see,” Chin said.
After an energetic performance by the Glendale Dance Team and smooth guitar playing by Long Beach State student Aiden Banks, the band Boygrim had attendees anticipating their performance.
Swedish singer, Sigge, sang his original songs throughout his set and was amongst one of the many performers who attended the benefit concert at The Pointe Conference Center on Nov. 7. Rehansa Kulatilleke | Long Beach Current
Fourth-year sociology major and singer Isaac Quiroz said he was ecstatic when asked to play at the event.
“We were just like ‘Dude, it’s Cal State Long Beach,’” Quiroz said. “I’ve always wanted to play here.”
As an owner of two cats, Quiroz has a soft spot for animals and said he couldn’t pass up using his talent to support WAGS.
“I love animals, and to know that money from ticket sales is going to support that is a beautiful thing,” Quiroz said.
Isaac Quiroz, the singer for the band Boygrim, performed some of their original songs near the end of the Benefit Concert at The Pointe Conference Center on Nov. 7. Rehansa Kulatilleke | Long Beach Current
As the band played, attendees waved their hands high and jammed out to the music. At one point, a mosh pit formed for people to circle around.
Closing out their performance with the song Cemetery Letters, Boygrim left the night’s crowd with an electrifying experience.
Like many of the animal lovers present at the event, attendee Diego Diaz found the benefit concert to be important. As the owner of a “kind and outgoing” dog named Nacho, coming to the event was a no-brainer.
“It makes me feel good inside knowing that there’s opportunities for this to support and help dogs in need,” Diaz said.
