MONSTER Mash is one of the major annual fundraising activities hosted by Rosewood Foundation Guyana Inc.
Slated for October 24, 2026, the event promises more thrills, chills and more monsters waiting at the YMCA Ground, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
The goal of the Rosewood Foundation is to create an experience where everyone can come together to enjoy Halloween in a way that has not been experienced before. At the same time, the foundation is raising funds in the name of animal welfare.
Since its initial launch in 2022, Monster Mash has grown tremendously, both in popularity and in the experiences offered.
President of the Rosewood Foundation, Donna Lam in a recent interview with the Daily Chronicle said that every year, the foundation challenges itself to improve on what was done before, as well as to think bigger, and find new ways to make Halloween in Guyana even more exciting.
At the same time, Rosewood tries to keep the event focused on the children. Lam said, “We’ve seen our attendance gradually increase over the years, and that really motivates us to keep pushing the limits of what we can offer.”
She expressed that while Monster Mash is one of its biggest fundraising activities, throughout the year, Rosewood organises several other initiatives to support its spay programmes and feeding stations.
“We usually host an annual Sip and Paint Fundraiser, Bake Sales, Neonatal kitten workshop, Coffee and Cats and Adoption Drives. We also hosted a tour to Armadillo Earth Farm for children,” she disclosed.
Throughout the years, Rosewood Foundation Guyana Inc., has organised and supported several spay and neuter campaigns in Georgetown and across several other regions, and organised a number of vaccination drives in collaboration with the GSPCA and Tails of Hope to make vaccinations and deworming services more accessible and affordable to pet owners.
Through its rescue and rehoming efforts, Rosewood has helped countless animals to find safe, loving homes.
The organisation has also participated in educational outreach programmes in schools, working alongside other rescue teams to teach children compassion and the importance of treating animals with kindness and respect, and collaborated with veterinarians to make essential veterinary services more accessible, as well as educating pet owners about the importance of preventative healthcare and early detection of diseases.
Despite these efforts, one of the greatest challenges faced by the Foundation is changing long-standing attitudes and misconceptions surrounding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
Lam stated, “Many pet owners still do not fully understand the importance of spaying and neutering, and some believe that animals should be allowed to reproduce naturally or that a female animal should be allowed to have at least one litter before being spayed. Others are still unaware of the health benefits of sterilization and its role in reducing the growing population of homeless animals.”
Lam said she believes there has been some improvement in responsible pet ownership compared to years ago, with social media playing a significant role in this change. While acknowledging that more needs to be done, she said that people are now more exposed to information about animal welfare, and cases of cruelty, neglect and abandonment are receiving greater public attention.
Asked how persons can lend a helping hand to the cause, she said Rosewood is always in need of financial contributions to pay its veterinary bills. Beyond this, they believe meaningful change happens when individuals, businesses and government agencies work together towards a common goal.
Lam said, “We always welcome partners to support our spay and neuter campaigns through sponsorships, donations of food and pet supplies or by supporting our fundraising efforts.
“My biggest message to anyone considering adopting an animal from Rosewood is this: Please adopt with your heart and a sense of responsibility and commitment. An animal is not a toy or a temporary companion, or a gift that can be discarded when it becomes inconvenient. It is a living being that will depend on you for food, love, shelter, and medical care. Please consider this when adopting; it is a lifetime commitment.”
She credited her team behind the scenes who rescue and care for animals, organise spay and neuter campaigns, facilitate rehoming, educate the public through its social media pages, raise funds and advocate for more humane treatment of all animals, and donors and supporters, for Rosewood’s success.
Monster Mash 2026 is being sponsored by a handful of companies, including Bad Monkey, Massy Stores, Cirkel Distributors, SAJ Rice Group, Ansa McAl, ENetworks, and Royal Castle and Beepats, whose support has helped make Monster Mash bigger and better this year.
Tickets for Monster Mash are available at Bad Monkey (Giftland, MovieTowne and Amazonia Mall locations), Collage on Sheriff Street (next door to Ramchand’s Auto Spares), The Book Barn (Massy Mega Stores, second kiosk from MoneyGram), and on the Potsalt website. Tickets cost $1000 for children and $2000 for adults. All proceeds from Monster Mash go directly to Rosewood Foundation Guyana Inc.
