It’s only Monday and it has already been an amazing week for the crew at the Al-Van Humane Society in South Haven. First of all, they were part of a record-setting free adoption event sponsored by the Bissell Pet Foundation in Grand Rapids and next, they became the recipient randomly selected for a major donation from the organization South Haven Women Who Care.
The Bissell Pet Foundation’s free adoption event to Empty The Shelters, resulted in a record-breaking 2,142 pets being adopted from 75 shelters including those in South Haven and Dowagiac. The foundation says that every adoption out makes space for a new pet arriving meaning 4,284 pet lives were saved by the event on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Al-Van Humane Society learned of their selection by the South Haven Women Who Care. At a quarterly meeting last month, the group met and listened to three 5-minute presentations and voted on which nonprofit should receive the quarterly donation.
Al-Van was selected as the recipient and received $7,900 from the organization. Al-Van Board President Lisa Galdikas presented and shared the progress on the renovations to the new adoption center located on Blue Star Highway. Funds received will go toward completing installation of the large dog kennels and outdoor fenced play areas. Galdikas noted that after a 2-year capital campaign, the shelter has raised $400,000 of the $500,000 necessary to complete that project.
She says, “With continued community support, we feel confident we can move our adoptable animals into the Blue Star Highway building in time for our 50th anniversary in 2018.”
South Haven Women Who Care has approximately 80 members and hopes to increase its membership to 100, so that each quarter, they will be able to support local nonprofits with a $10,000 donation. Anyone interested in supporting local nonprofits in that manner is invited to email Laura Hayward at lhayward@dbccpa.com. The next meeting for South Haven Women Who Care is November 1 at 5:30pm at the South Haven Yacht Club. All are welcome to attend.
Founded in 1968, Al-Van Humane Society (AVHS) is a no-kill non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to providing emergency food and shelter for homeless pets. It is an independent and private, 501c3 non-profit organization. In 2012, the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance awarded AVHS the Most Improved Open Admission Shelter. The shelter is located on 8th Avenue in South Haven, Michigan. For information on Al-Van’s C.A.R.E.S. Capital Campaign and ways to donate, you can visit their website www.al-van.org.
Pictured in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com are (from L-R): Wendy Dubuisson & Debbie Foune, representatives from South Haven Women Who Care; Lisa Galdikas, Al-Van President (holding Beatrice, a shelter cat) and Lisa Kozicki, Al-Van Vice President.
