VOTED BEST EVENT IN PHILLY

Hair O’ The Dog was created in 1995 (that’s 109 DOG years ago!) by longtime friends Daniel Cronin and Robert Molinaro. Dan and Rob are also the co-founders of Chorus Communications, an award-winning Technology Consulting firm headquartered in Philadelphia. The first Hair O’ The Dog was held at the Tiki Club in King of Prussia. At the party, they decided that their love of fun, combined with their whip-smart business sense, could generate income for non-profits through fundraising.

From this thinking, Hair O’ The Dog was born. The founders were thrilled with the original 100 person turn out! Each year since this glamorous gala has grown tremendously in both size and prominence. Today, the event attracts thousands of party-goers and is considered the longest-running black-tie affair in the country. HOD is now spearheaded by Buffy Harakidas, a seasoned event & marketing professional. Known for her creativity and passion, Buffy has produced some of the biggest and best shindigs in the country.

Each year, a portion of the event proceeds are donated to a designated charity. Past charities include Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, The Garden of Reflection (PA’s official 9-11 memorial), The National Constitution Center, Habitat for Humanity, Project H.O.M.E., Friends of Memorial Hall Fund, The Sunshine Foundation, The Great Guy Group, The Bethesda Project, Friends Are by Your Side, Unico Philadelphia, Penn State Thon, Bianca’s Kids, The Claddagh Fund, The Morris Animal Refuge, and The Center for Autism. In 2019, in commemoration with Hair O’ The Dog’s 25th Anniversary, The City of Philadelphia awarded the event with a citation from the Mayor for its continued and successful philanthropic efforts.

HOD Through the Years