FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

New Yorkers, Take Note! Two Clicks and 30 Seconds Can Help Create New York City's First Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Grant will provide funds to help rehabilitate NYC's wild birds and mammals

What: Vote for the Wild Bird Fund, a non-profit 501(c)(3) that provides emergency care for over 1,000 wild birds and animals in New York City each year, to win a $250,000 grant provided by the Pepsi Refresh Project, which will help build New York City's first wildlife rehabilitation center.

This year-long giveaway is a result of Pepsi's decision to allocate $20 million for philanthropy instead of advertisements during the Super Bowl. After one month of voting, Pepsi will announce 32 ideas that received the most votes across four different grant levels, ranging from $5,000 up to $250,000. You can vote once each day through September.

Why: New York City is the only major city in the United States without a wildlife rehabilitation center. New York City is a major stopover of the East Coast migratory flyway. Over 355 bird species live in the Big Apple or take refuge here during migration. Many of these birds are injured by flying into buildings that have sprung up along their ancient migratory pathways, others by cat attacks, vehicles, and human interference. The Wild Bird Fund, a non-profit that provides emergency care for over 1,000 wild birds and mammals in NYC each year, is seeking to change that — a cause which the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals supports wholeheartedly.

The Wild Bird Fund has worked out of borrowed space for the past eight years, but now there is not enough room for the number of patients. Each year, the organization answers nearly 4,000 calls regarding distressed wildlife and provides emergency care and rehabilitation to over 1,000 patients. Many of these animals come for the Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) shelters — 750 birds and 121 squirrels were among the nearly 4,000 animals (excluding cats and dogs) taken in at AC&C just last year!

With enough votes, the Wild Bird Fund has the chance to win a $250,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project. The money will help secure the lease on an ideal two-story space that will be used as a rehab center for NYC's wild birds and mammals, as well as an educational center with a theater.

When: Voting began on September 1, 2010, and continues through the end of the month. You can vote once each day through September.

For more information about the Wild Bird Fund, visit www.WildBirdFund.com.

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