April 29, 2016
Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
fletcher@maddiesfund.org
Pleasanton, CA, April 29, 2016 - Maddie's Fund®, a national family foundation based in Pleasanton, CA, is offering grants to every qualifying animal shelter that joins the Million Cat Challenge between April 29 and May 31. Every U.S. animal shelter that registers within this timeframe will receive $1,000, and current Challengers will receive $500 for each new qualified organization they refer.
The Million Cat Challenge is a 5-year campaign to save the lives of 1 million cats in North America by offering every animal shelter in every community practical choices to reduce euthanasia and increase live outcomes.
"The lifesaving work of the Million Cat Challenge and the mind-shift they are creating is extraordinary," said Amy Zeifang, Maddie's Fund Board Chair and Executive Leadership Team. "Through the efforts of their participants, more than 500,000 lives have been saved so far. We hope our incentive will bring more shelters on board to more quickly reach our collective goal of a million lives saved."
"Thanks to Maddie, this initiative will help us grow our Challenger membership," said Dr. Kate Hurley, co-founder of the Challenge. "That will help us achieve our million cat mission that much faster. We encourage community members around the country to share this great opportunity with their local animal shelter."
Animal shelters nationwide are encouraged to visit MillionCatChallenge.org for details on how to enroll in the challenge.
About Maddie’s Fund
Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation founded in 1994 by Workday co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, they have awarded more than $172 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet adoptions across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie's Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and comforted them during stressful business times when Dave was launching a startup software company. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.
Maddie’s Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog and the creation of a goal towards achieving a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home. #ThanksToMaddie
About the Million Cat Challenge
The Million Cat Challenge is a shelter-based campaign to save the lives of 1 million cats in North America over the next five years. The core strategy of the campaign will be five key initiatives that will offer every shelter, in every community, practical choices to reduce euthanasia and increase live outcomes for shelter cats.