April 19, 2017

Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
fletcher@maddiesfund.org

PLEASANTON, CA--( April 19, 2017) - Maddie's Fund®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, has made a $100,000 investment in Shelter Animals Count. Shelter Animals Count is the only 501c3 independent organization dedicated to collecting, sharing and stewarding a national database of shelter statistics, resulting in a greater understanding of the state of animal welfare and, ultimately, more lives saved.

This grant will support the organization's day-to-day operations so they can continue to help communities at the local level to understand the trends, opportunities and challenges they face, and to help create a picture of how those translate to the regional and national levels.

"Maddie's Fund is one of the original funders of the national database project," said Jodi Buckman, Chair of the Shelter Animals Count Board of Directors. "This generous grant demonstrates their confidence in this project, and in the importance of gathering data, nationwide, from animal rescue and sheltering organizations," said Buckman. "We're proud to be partnering with them in this effort."

"We believe data collection and reporting is vital to the work of shelters and rescue organizations," said Shelly Thompson, Director of Grants at Maddie's Fund. "Shelter Animals Count is the only national vehicle for achieving this and we are thrilled to support them."


About Maddie's Fund

Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to their inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.

The Foundation has awarded over $275.7 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S.

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 and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie.