Banfield Charitable Trust - Press Release - 2009 Grant Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2009

Contact:

Dianne McGill, Executive Director

Banfield Charitable Trust

503-922-5801

The Banfield Charitable Trust Awards $150,000 to Support Pet Related Organizations Across the Country During the First Part of 2009

20 organizations receive funding to launch and sustain programs that foster a brighter future for Pets and families through education and care

Portland, Ore. -February 2009-The Banfield Charitable Trust recently announced the recipients of its 2009 winter grant awards, distributing $150,000 in funding among 20 outstanding organizations.  Many of this year's selected organizations focus on Pet care education, while others further community outreach programs that are dedicated to enhancing lives by partnering people and Pets. 

Established in 2003, The Banfield Charitable Trust selects top grant candidates from numerous organizations that focus on keeping Pets and families together.  The final recipients are also chosen based on programs that promote preventive healthcare for Pets, programs that foster the human-Pet bond, childhood education about Pets or careers in veterinary medicine and veterinary education programs.  Since the inception of the grants program in 2004, the Banfield Charitable Trust has awarded more than $1 million in funding.

Among the 20 grants awarded, the Nebraska Humane Society was presented with a Banfield Charitable Trust grant of $15,000. This generous grant will help support the Guardian Angel Foster Care program, whereby hundreds of exceptionally needy, homeless dogs and cats spend days, weeks, or even months in the homes of 167 volunteer foster families as they recover from their illnesses, heal from their injuries, and prepare for adoption into permanent homes.     

"The Nebraska Humane Society is thrilled to be the recipient of a BCT grant- it is a wonderful partnership that will allow us to help serve Pets in need," says Carole Steier, Development Associate, Nebraska Humane Society.

Shawn Finch, DVM of the Oak View Banfield, sponsored The Nebraska Humane Society's application for a grant and was thrilled when she found they were accepted for funding. "Thank you so much for helping; the more I learn about their foster care program, the more impressed I am. Your gift will definitely be multiplied to help countless Pets and families in Nebraska," says Finch.

Another grant award contributes to support Portland Children's Museum. The museum is a regional resource for healthy early childhood development which welcomes more than 245,000 children from birth to age ten and their caregivers.

"Thanks to the support of Banfield Charitable Trust, Portland Children's Museum will host the national traveling exhibit Clifford the Big Red Dog, based on the highly acclaimed children's book series and PBS television show from October 23, 2009 to February 16, 2010.   When children enter the world of Clifford, they learn that the more you put into caring for your pet and for yourself, the happier you and your pet will be," says Betzy Fry, Director of Development.

Another recipient, the Assistance Dogs of Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio matches highly trained assistance dogs with people who have physical and psychological conditions in order to improve their quality of life.

"Our goal with the Banfield Trust grant is to strengthen the human-Pet bond by increasing our training for 5 of our foster dogs and their handlers, by one hour per week for 30 weeks. This extra training will establish a more complete and ongoing bond when the individual and Pet are placed together," says Judy Gaetje, Service Dog Supervisor.

2009 Banfield Charitable Trust grant award recipients:

Through donor contributions the Trust strives to increase their grant funding each year, giving more resources to keep Pets and families together. Two grant cycles are offered each year in January and June. The deadline for the next funding cycle is June 30^th, 2009. For an application and additional details on the funding process, please visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.org. Applicants can download grant guidelines and application from the website after March 1^st.

For more information about the Banfield Charitable Trust, please contact Dianne McGill, Executive Director, 503-922-5801, info@banfieldcharitabletrust.org.

Banfield Charitable Trust, a 501 (c) (3) public charity founded in 2003, is always on the look out for community-wide projects that keep Pets and families together. Funding consideration is only given to registered nonprofit organizations and accredited educational institutions.  Special consideration will be given to Pet related organizations and veterinary education programs collaborating with Banfield, Pet Hospitals

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