Wednesday, June 11, 2014 – New York, NY – An unprecedented 15,000 dogs and cats found homes this past weekend at the nation’s largest free pet adoption event, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days, sponsored by Maddie’s Fund®. In New York City, more than 90 shelters and rescue groups participated in this annual two-day event by finding forever homes for close to 5,500 local dogs and cats and raising an estimated $5,000,000 for local shelters and rescue groups.
“As the host of Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days in New York City, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals is extremely proud of what we accomplished. Because of the hard work and support of all our partners, the Petco Foundation, and hundreds of volunteers, more than 5,500 homeless pets now have loving families,” said Jane Hoffman, president of the Alliance. “We are grateful to Maddie’s Fund for their generosity in supporting the Alliance’s work in New York City. We congratulate them on an extraordinary success!”
Now in its fifth year, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days spanned 591 cities in nine states across the country, including the New York City area. Communities were buzzing with adoption events, and many locations had people lined up hours before their doors opened.
“As we near our goal of a no-kill nation by 2015, we are thrilled at the sheer number of people who visited participating locations over the weekend,” said Maddie’s Fund president Rich Avanzino. “We congratulate the groups on a successful event, and applaud the thousands of people who opened their hearts and homes to a shelter pet this weekend.”
“Each year, Cheryl and I see the spirit of Maddie at every adoption location we visit,” said Maddie’s Fund founder Dave Duffield. “It’s a tribute to her legacy and the power of one little dog to inspire a movement and bring communities together to find thousands of animals loving homes.”
Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days grew 78% over last year’s 8,432 adoptions. Maddie’s Fund originally set aside $10 million this year to underwrite the adoptions managed by participating shelters and rescue groups, but the total donation amount is likely to be much higher.
Maddie was a beloved four-legged family member of Dave Duffield, founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, and his wife, Cheryl. For the last five years, Maddie’s Fund, their family foundation, has sponsored Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days to honor her memory.
Media Assets
For media assets such as broadcast-quality video news releases, high-resolution images, and a 0:30 PSA, visit adopt.maddiesfund.org/mediaandpr/.
About the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals®
The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity that works with more than 150 partner rescue groups and shelters to offer important programs and services that save the lives of NYC’s homeless animals. We are supported entirely by donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals and receive no government funding. Since our founding in 2003, we have remained committed to transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015, meaning that no dogs or cats of reasonable health and temperament will be killed merely because they do not have homes. www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org
About Maddie’s Fund®
Maddie’s Fund® is a family foundation endowed by the founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie’s Fund is helping to achieve and sustain a no-kill nation by providing solutions to the most challenging issues facing the animal welfare community through its grant giving, hands-on animal care, and research and education. Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997. www.maddiesfund.org
Media Contact
Courtney Savoia, LAK Public Relations, Inc.
Phone: (212) 329-1408
E-mail: csavoia@lakpr.com