By KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

The ninth annual Wild About Chocolate fundraiser will be held Saturday, Feb. 9 at Rosewood Hall in Homewood.

The fundraiser benefits the Alabama Wildlife Center, a Pelham-based non-profit organization that rescues and rehabilitates wild birds throughout the state.

Director Carol Argo said the event is one of the organization’s main sources of funding.

“It helps us to off our animal care services and education programs,” she said.

The event will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, catered by a variety of local restaurants, including Avo, Dram, Jackson’s Bar and Bistro, Savoie Catering, Edgar’s Bakery, Rusty’s Bar-B-Que, Royal Cup Coffee, Good People Brewery and Cabot Cheese.

“We need people to buy tickets and come to the event,” she said. “We just want people to come and have a wonderful evening.”

The event will also feature a silent auction and live auction, which will be hosted by Hoover resident and philanthropist Ken Jackson.

Florida-based artist Justin Gaffrey will serve as the artist in residence and also donated a painting for the auction.

Rosewood Hall is located at 2850 19th Street South in SoHo Square in Homewood. The buffet and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m., while the live auction begins at 8 p.m.

Individual tickets cost $75 in advance and $100 at the door. Advance ticket sales end Feb. 8 at 5 p.m.

For more information, call 205-663-7930, ext. 8 or visit Awrc.org.