A line of cars emerged from Old Farm Road and crested over the dirt hill at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation’s (CVHF) animal sanctuary on the afternoon of July 2.

Inside the vehicles were members of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s (Coldwell Banker) Newtown and Southbury offices, who were all eager to explore the property, learn about the nonprofit’s recent projects, and meet with CVHF president Jenny Hubbard to present her with a $500 check.

Coldwell Banker raised the money during their raffle at the CVHF’s Fifth Annual Butterfly Party on June 8.

The Butterfly Party celebrates the life of Catherine Violet Hubbard — who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 12/14 — and is a free family fun festival and super pet adoption event. This year, the Butterfly Party fell exactly on what would have been Catherine’s 13th birthday. The event helped adopt out more than 55 animals and welcomed more than 6,000 people throughout the day, including special guest Lee Asher from The Asher House.

Prior to the big day, individual Coldwell Banker members pitched in and donated $2,500 to the CVHF to be a Red Swan sponsor for the Butterfly Party.

While at the event, the members who attended conducted a raffle that included a brand new gas grill, a $250 valued piece of art, and specialty baskets.

Coldwell Banker members also wore their custom-made blue T-shirts that said, “Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Supports CVH Foundation, cvhfoundation.org” at the Butterfly Party and handed out free water bottles, animal stickers, and framed animal photography to attendees.

While at the sanctuary on July 2, with the sun shining down upon all those gathered, Coldwell Banker Office Manager Karen Alpi expressed that the donation would not have been possible without the hard work of its members. While handing Ms Hubbard the $500 check, she said that she was thrilled Coldwell Banker could support the CVHF.

Many Coldwell Banker members voiced their excitement for the group to participate in next year’s Butterfly Party and said that this was just the beginning of their work to help the sanctuary.

For more information about the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, visit facebook.com/catherineviolethubbardanimalsanctuary.