Smoldering Cigar raises $7,000 for charity at annual herf event

By KYLIE PORTZ
LIVERMORE - During the 2025 Livermore Daze festivities on July 19, the Smoldering Cigar shop downtown hosted their annual herf event to support Dogs Inc. A non-profit organization that provides life-saving service dogs to disabled veterans.

At the event, cigar enthusiasts could enter a raffle, participate in a silent auction and enjoy a meal in exchange for a donation to the cause. According to Smoldering Cigar, this year's event raised an estimated amount of $3,500, with Ohio Cigar Mafia matching dollar by dollar, bringing the total amount raised to $7,000.

Smoldering Cigar is owned by Brian and Seana Bolen and was established as a family business in 2020. The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 12-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Brian Bolen said, “We are big supporters of veterans, and we love the services that Dogs Inc. offers for the veteran. The dog, and the fact that the money is donated directly to them and there’s no middleman. The dogs are free to the veteran forever, once they’ve been approved for it, and that’s their deal. It’s just been a great deal. It’s been a great partnership with us. This will be our third year.”

Dogs Inc. Director of Mission Awareness, Sean Brown, was present at the event to speak about his experiences with the organization both as an employee and as a recipient of a service dog.

Dogs Inc. is based out of Palmetto Bay, Florida. According to their website www.dogsinc.org, the organization is “the only organization in North America to provide guide and service dogs, online and in-person training, lifetime alumni support, premium dog food and preventive veterinary care- all at no cost. And our commitment doesn’t end there; we also offer financial assistance for unexpected veterinary bills. Because love, hope and independence should be given freely.”

Some of the services Dog Inc. provides include guide dogs, service dogs for veterans, gold star family members (coming soon) and teens living with diabetes (coming soon), skilled companion dogs and therapy dogs.

Brown explained how he and the organization began their partnership with Smoldering Cigar for the fundraising event.

He said, “We attended the My Old Kentucky Herf event in Ashland two years ago, and we met Seana and Brian, and they heard our mission. They heard my personal story about how Dogs Inc. saved my life and they said, ‘We want to get involved.’ And now, two years later, what they wanted to do is coming to pass and we’re here to spread awareness and to get people involved in what we’re doing.”

Brown initially got involved with the organization as a recipient, now having received two service dog placements from the organization.

“So I’ve got two dogs at no cost and it’s been life-changing,” Brown said.

Read the story in this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!