Michelson Found Animals’ Fourth Annual Saving Pets Challenge Raises $1.5 Million
Michelson Found Animals’ Fourth Annual Saving Pets Challenge Raises $1.5 Million for At-Risk Shelter Animals Across the Country
– 431 organizations participated in the month-long competition where they competed to raise the most funds and earn additional prize money from Michelson Found Animals –
LOS ANGELES, CA– (June 16, 2017) – The Michelson Found Animals Foundation (Found Animals), “Inc. is thrilled to announce that $1.5 million dollars was raised for the fourth annual “Saving Pets Challenge”, a 32-day fundraiser involving over 400 animal welfare organizations across the country. Hosted on the popular fundraising platform Crowdrise, competed to for their individual organizations, while working together for the ultimate goal of saving pets. In addition to the money the organizations raised during the challenge, the top-five highest organizations will be rewarded with additional cash grants from Michelson Found Animals totaling $150,000.
For the second year in a row, Rescued Pets Movement Inc. from Houston, Texas won the Saving Pets Challenge by raising $146,978. In addition to keeping 100% of those funds, they’ll receive an additional $50,000 grant from Michelson Found Animals as first place prize. In total, 431 organizations from 45 states competed in this year’s Saving Pets Challenge.
“For these animal welfare organizations, fundraising is a never-ending job that has to be done in order to care for and save the animals,” said Aimee Gilbreath, (Former) Executive Director of Michelson Found Animals Foundation. “With this competition, we hope to provide a more unique and effective opportunity for them to rally their community and solicit donations, while making it fun for everyone involved.”
“We are thrilled to have won the competition two years in a row,” said Laura Carlock, Executive Director of Rescued Pets Movement Inc. “With the almost $200,000 we raised and won this year, we will save over 1,000 death-row dogs and cats in Houston, as that is the focus of our organization and we want to continue helping the thousands of homeless animals in our community”. The Saving Pets Challenge began Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, and ended Thursday, June 1, 2017at 1:59:59 p.m. EDT.
First Place: Rescued Pets Movement – Houston, TX
Awarded $50,000 grant for raising $146,978
Second Place: Heaven on Earth Society for Animals – Los Angeles, CA
Awarded $30,000 grant for raising $118,965
Third Place: Stray Cat Alliance – Los Angeles, CA
Awarded $20,000 grant for raising $116,620
Fourth Place: Desert Labrador Retriever Rescue – Phoenix, AZ
Awarded $10,000 grant for raising $115,275
Fifth Place: Fort Collins Cat Rescue – Fort Collins, CO
Awarded $5,000 grant for raising $111,151
The Michelson Found Animals Saving Pets Challenge Fundraiser began in 2014 and has raised over five million dollars since its first year and impacted more than 606 humane societies, municipal sheltering agencies, spay/neuter clinics and rescue organizations.
About Michelson Found Animals
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation is a non-profit supporting pet-owners and animal welfare organizations; our mission is Saving Pets, Enriching Lives. After celebrating a decade of service to animals, we continue to grow as we find new and innovative ways to help pets and the people who care for them. In addition to creating the first free microchip registry, we now have our own adoption centers, research next generation spay/neuter technology, and sell affordable high-quality products—all in the service of pets. Our unique perspective into all aspects of animal welfare allows us to better support pet owners and pet professionals alike. All of this is possible thanks to generous funding from Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson.
See how we’re using our brains and expertise to obtain real, sustainable, results at foundanimals.org.
