Hollywood’s elite hit the red carpet last weekend to celebrate the 88th Academy Awards and pay tribute to this year’s big winners on the silver screen. And Team Elfster was proud to be taking part in the festivities this year! A few of our lucky elves headed to Los Angeles to join in the celebration at the Product Hollywood Celebrity Gifting Suite, which featured visits from many celebrity guests.
Wayne Pere, who played a role in 2014’s Oscar winning Best Picture 12 Years a Slave and James Dumont, who appeared in this year’s Oscar-nominated film Trumbo, stopped by to get acquainted with Elfster.
Not only did celebrities get to take a look at the one-of-a-kind secret santa gift exchange concept of the website, but Team Elfster demonstrated its charitable drive function as well. This feature allows a charity to create a wish list that can be shared so that individuals wishing to support its cause can purchase needed items and send directly to the organization. Elfster was pleased to partner with Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL), a Emergency Response Organization that provides comfort to homeless animals in Los Angeles, at this year’s event to bring awareness of the plight of animals in need. Through this partnership, Elfster will allow users to browse some suggested gifts. They can then choose their gift and make the purchase directly from the retailer, and send to OBOL. Click here to check out OBOL’s wish list.
T.C. Stallings, who starred in 2015 film War Room, paid Team Elfster a visit.
Legendary actor Ed Asner paid a visit to Elfster’s CEO, Peter Imburg, to offer some “fatherly advice” from one Head Elf to another. (You may recall Ed Asner played the role of Santa Claus in the blockbuster holiday film Elf in 2003.)
But the big hit of the event for all the celebrities was a visit with Elfster’s special friend Vienna, a rescue pig, who was sadly abandoned by her owners as a piglet. As she matured, she no longer fit the definition as a ‘mini pig,’ so her owners cruelly starved her to keep her small. Then along came Debby Porter, who runs a pig rescue group called Lil Orphan Hammies. Debby rescued Vienna, as well as a number of other pigs in similar situations, and nursed her back to health. Four years later, Vienna is 70 pounds strong and is just a sweetheart and best friend to Debby. Celebrities were able to visit Vienna and have their pictures taken with the lovable pig, who was at first timid with all the attention she received! Thanks to Elfster exchange organizer Jessica Smith, who helped put Team Elfster in touch with Debby. Jessica’s group of mini pig owners recently held a “Secret Piggie Valentine” gift exchange for mini pig owners using Elfster and was featured on our blog in February. This wonderful group sparked the idea for Elfster’s to host its own charitable drive to support animal rescues, including pigs.
Tony Bentley, known for his roles in this year’s Oscar-nominated The Big Short, as well as previously nominated films 12 Years a Slave (2014) and Dallas Buyer’s Club (2014), shared a smile with the lovely Vienna.
And if you’re looking for a great way to connect with your own fans or friends, organize your own gift exchange. Elfster is the Web’s top-rated online Secret Santa generator, offering participants the opportunity to organize a gift exchange any time of year! Elfster makes it easy, free, and fun! Need help? You can reach us via Facebook here. Tweet us @elfster or catch us on Instagram at #elfstergram.
Wish. Gift. Shop. Share.
