Community Support Needed for Chance to Win $100,000 Grand Prize and Save More Lives
Beginning June 1, Humane Society Calumet Area (HSCA) will be a contestant in the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. HSCA is competing for a chance at more than $600,000 in grant funding, including a grand prize of $100,000.
The 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a nationwide competition for animal shelters (and their communities) aimed at getting more animals adopted or returned to their owners than ever before. The challenge takes place throughout the months of June through August and the HSCA has set a goal of placing 675 animals in forever homes during that time.
“We are very excited to participate in the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. It is a great way to bring the communities of Northwest Indiana together as a team of lifesavers to help connect hundreds of shelter animals with the right families,” said Rachel Delaney, Executive Director of HSCA. “Working together, we will save hundreds of animals and enrich the lives of new adopting families and we’ll have a shot at the $100,000 grant, which would fund spay and neuter efforts in our area.”
For the challenge, HSCA chose the theme of “Rescue Me.” Throughout the summer at the shelter, HSCA will offer Save Me Saturdays with reduced adoption fees for a special group—including police officers, firefighters, EMTS, doctors, nurses and more—during each event.
Five times during the summer, the shelter will host Empty the Shelter weekends on a Saturday and Sunday with no-cost adoption fees for qualifying applicants. A tentative list of adoption events and specials can be found on www.hscalumet.org/aspca.asp.
This challenge offers the HSCA a shot at the $100,000 grant, which would help HSCA continue to fulfill its mission to lead the community in the humane treatment of animals. In addition to placing nearly 1,500 abandoned animals in forever homes last year, HSCA is very active within the community by providing the following services:
· Estelle Marcus Clinic: Since opening its doors to low-income members of the public in July 2012, the clinic has provided more than 3,100 spay and neuter surgeries to those with financial hardship. · Pet Therapy Teams: HSCA pet therapy teams visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities four times a week. · Humane Education: HSCA's humane education team helps teach local children about pet safety and compassion.
For more information about HSCA's participation in the 2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge and how you can volunteer, sponsor, or adopt, please visit www.hscalumet.org/aspca.asp.