Fundraising = Happiness

I've known since a young age that my true calling was working with animals. The problem was that I didn't want to commit to Vet school and wanted to earn more than a zookeeper or vet tech. Fortunately, a wonderful idea popped into my head late last Fall that would help me at least do something to benefit animals in need.

It began as a small idea centered around the fact that I wanted to do something at my church to help the animals. Our church has donated for over 18 years to the wonderful organizations that help people in need, but I wanted our congregation to reach beyond that. I wanted them to think about those who give selfishly and love us more than they love themselves: domesticated animals. As I soon found out, it's almost near impossible to get such a large church to let someone like me organize a fundraiser like this. The idea floated in my head from church to my work. After teaming up with our Philanthropic Committee and getting my proposal approved by the board, I was on my way to planning a full-on "Humane Society Day" at work.

For 2-3 months, three others and I brainstormed on what we could do and how we could accomplish that. We settled on a breakfast, bake sale and silent auction with a huge budget of $0! After calling tons of local companies and using our contacts at pet-related stores, we were able to secure several donations to use.

Last Friday, January 23rd, the events began; and what would take place that day would make me as happy as a kid in a candy store. Tons of people flocked into our $5 breakfast. Tons of people bought $1 bags of bake sale items made by volunteers for $5 and $10 without asking for change. Tons of people bid on silent auction items, and a few people even wrote very large personal checks.

In the end, we raised over $1500 for the KC Humane Society, as well as hopefully generated some interest into the animals currently up for adoption, and created some potential volunteers! I'm very proud to work for a company that lets employees submit and run with ideas like this, and I am proud to work with people who care enough to donate to these wonderful causes.

In the end though, I have to admit that I was the one who benefited the most. With just some organizing, planning and phone calls, I was able to do this in honor of my two four-legged "children" and it felt so good.

Many thanks to our sponsors: Applebees, Einstein Bagels, 3 Women & An Oven, Pete & Mac's, Brookside Barkery, Yuppie Puppy Photography and McKeever's Price Chopper

Book Review - Marley and Me

Anyone who is a dog lover, and especially a lab lover, should definitely read this book!

Marley and Me tells the story of a young couple who decide to get a puppy as a way of testing their parenting skills before trying their luck with actual human babies. What makes the story interesting is that they don’t just get any puppy; they get a Lab puppy without realizing that Lab puppies are known for, well, utter and tireless chaos and destruction. And it becomes clear, very early on, that Marley is no exception. As most Lab puppies do, Marley grew startlingly quickly from a snuggly fuzzy little yellow fella to a 97-pound Juggernaut in whose path nothing and nobody was safe. The book is a testament to the many profound ways in which dogs affect and become an integral part of the lives of their human owners.

You will laugh, smile and cry when reading this book as it touches on all emotions throughout the story. I would definitely give this book an A+ and can't wait to go see the movie!