FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2008
Contact:
Dianne McGill, Executive Director
Banfield Charitable Trust
503-922-5801
Dianne.McGill@banfieldcharitabletrust.org
The Banfield Charitable Trust Awards More Than $170,000 to Support Pet Related Organizations Across the Country.
24 organizations receive funding to launch and sustain programs that foster a brighter future for Pets and families through education and care
Portland, Ore. -March 2008-The Banfield Charitable Trust, the charitable arm of Banfield, The Pet Hospital® recently announced the recipients of its 2008 fall grant awards, distributing $173,572 in funding among 24 outstanding organizations. Many of this years selected organizations focus on Pet care education, while others further community outreach programs that are dedicated to enhancing lives by partnering people and Pets. During 2007, the Banfield Charitable Trust helped more than 50 organizations by contributing more than $300,000.
Established in 2003, The Banfield Charitable Trust selects top grant candidates from numerous organizations that focus on the human-Pet bond. The final recipients are also chosen based on programs that promote preventive healthcare for Pets, childhood education about veterinary medicine and veterinary education.
"The Banfield Charitable Trust is honored to be awarding these grants to such worthy organizations who are committed to improving the lives and well being of Pets and People," says Sandy Campbell, Banfield Charitable Trust President & Board Chair. "Every donation to the Banfield Charitable Trust, by an individual or an organization, contributes to the success of each program that receives a grant award. The Trust is proud to be in partnership with these organizations as they reach out to give back, give support and give hope."
Among the 24 grants awarded, Teacher's Pet of Rochester Hills, MI was presented with a $10,000 Banfield Charitable Trust grant. This grant will help sustain an intervention program that uses the powerful human-pet bond to help at-risk students manage, control and prevent behavioral problems that affect academic learning.
"The support and generosity of the Banfield Charitable Trust has touched the hearts and lives of many of our at-risk youth," says Amy Johnson, Program Director for Teacher's Pet. "Difficult to adopt shelter dogs can receive the training they need to find and remain in their forever homes and their student trainers can
gain a sense of confidence, empowerment, loyalty and unconditional love."
Another grant award from the Banfield Charitable Trust contributes $10,000 to support San Francisco Community Consortium's Veterinary Street Outreach Services (VET SOS) program. VET SOS is a volunteer-based project providing free veterinary care for the companion animals of homeless San Franciscans. VET SOS provides physical examinations, basic medical procedures, vaccinations, and acute medical care to homeless pets through the use of a specially equipped mobile outreach van.
"Thanks in part to the generosity of the Banfield Charitable Trust, VET SOS provided complimentary veterinary care to more that 400 companion animals of homeless San Franciscans during 2007," says Bess Touma, chair of VET SOS Advisory Committee.
K9 Connection received $10,000 to support its program where high school age at-risk youth train homeless dogs in basic obedience, helping the dogs to become adoptable. "K9 Connection gratefully thanks the Banfield Charitable Trust for its generous grant for our project which links at-risk youth and at-risk dogs," says Pat Sinclair, K9 Connection Co-Founder. "The funds will be used to help provide essential components of our program: dog supplies, a stipend for our K9 connection dog trainer, graduation expenses for our students, program supplies and student snacks."
2008 Banfield Charitable Trust grant award recipients:
Through donor contributions the Trust strives to increase their grant funding each year, giving more resources to make life better for Pets and families. Two grant cycles are offered each year in January and June. The deadline for the next funding cycle is June 30, 2008. 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.
For more information about the Banfield Charitable Trust, please contact Dianne McGill, Executive Director #503-922-54261, Dianne.McGill@banfield.net.
Banfield Charitable Trust, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003, is always on the look out for community-wide projects that make life better for Pets and their families. 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; aimed at furthering and upholding the Banfield mission. By encouraging collaboration between our hospitals and their local community-based organizations, the Charitable Trust brings together the people, skills, equipment and commitment to advance veterinary medicine, providing a better quality of life for Pets and their families.
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 670 quality veterinary hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1000 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year.
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