Archive: Around Town

The SPCA of Tompkins County received a challenge to raise $25,000 before the end of May from an anonymous donor. Donations have been very slow during the first quarter of the year, only at 70% of goal. The challenge donor wanted to help the SPCA overcome what is turning out to be a national trend in reduced giving.  She offered to match, dollar for dollar, gifts up to $25,000. The challenge mailing, highlighting a shelter dog rescued last year, Oscar, will be in community members’ mailboxes this week.

In an attempt to help meet the challenge, executive director Jim Bouderau contacted several agency friends about making gifts now to maximize their benefit.  A second anonymous donor approached executive director Jim Bouderau at Wegmans over the weekend and offered to double the challenge.

Every dollar donated between now and the end of May will be matched twice, so donations up to $25,000 will turn into $75,000.

Bouderau joked “The title of our next e-newsletter should be ‘executive director falls from chair in disbelief!’” 

This is a very difficult time of year for the SPCA. Donations are down 30%, which according to national surveys is an overarching trend. At the same time, the shelter is expecting more than 200 pets to be surrendered each month. The spring influx of cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies is expected to reach more than 1,000 before July.

Bourderau commented, “Our humane investigators receive dozens of calls every day, people have litters of unwanted pets they need help with, stray animals are coming in daily – the generosity of our community in the fall months is helping to sustain us this spring, but the challenge that these two wonderful women have offered will make all the difference in our ability to keep saving lives! I am so incredibly grateful.”

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