June 26, 2018
Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
[email protected]
PLEASANTON, Calif., June 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maddie's Fund®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, is granting $2,580,741 to support the Million Cat Challenge as it expands to into its next phase of animal lifesaving in shelters across North America.
The Million Cat Challenge, a campaign to save the lives of one million shelter cats, met its goal one year early. In addition to continuing the momentum that helped achieve the initial goal, the next stage of the Million Cat Challenge will focus on communities where cats are still at risk, and helping to make lifesaving the norm across shelters through its five key initiatives.
"The Challenge has revolutionized animal sheltering for cats," said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Maddie's Fund Executive Leadership Team. "Moving forward, initiatives such as making adoptions easier and managing the admission of cats to match the shelter's ability to assure humane care will become everyday practices for all animals in shelters."
"One of the great benefits of The Million Cat Challenge was that it taught us how much progress was truly possible. That inspires us to aim even higher, not just for cats but for all animals in shelters," said Challenge co-founder Dr. Kate Hurley of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. "Thanks to Maddie, we look forward to saving even more lives during the next phase."
About Maddie's Fund
Dave and Cheryl Duffield established Maddie's Fund®, their family foundation, in 1994. It is the fulfillment of a promise to their dog, Maddie, who provided them much joy over ten years and continues to inspire us today.
The Foundation has awarded over $313 million in grants toward increased community collaborations and live outcomes, pioneering shelter medicine education, establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S. and driving innovation in access to care. Maddie's Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions.
The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need, removing barriers and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. All Thanks to Maddie.
Maddie's Fund is part of The Duffield Foundation Family, which also includes Liberty Dogs and Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation.