We’ve tallied our votes and we’re donating $3,030 to the following charities….
The People For Pets Giving Circle had a tie, and we’ll divide our donation equally between the Animal Rescue of the Rockies and Kindness Ranch
Animal Rescue of the Rockies is a 100% foster based rescue, because they believe that foster homes make it easier for animals to be adopted. Animals are less stressed and more adapted to a home environment. And since ARR takes the pet back if the adoption doesn’t work out, they like to get it right the first time. Unlike most rescues, they have a lot of success with cats and actually adopt out more cats than dogs. In 2018, they found permanent homes for 265 dogs and 1,248 cats. Since founding in 2003, they’ve placed more than 10,000 dogs and cats.
Kindness Ranch is located on a 1,000 acre ranch in Hartville, WY. They take in all kinds of research animals including dogs, cats, horses, pigs and sheep. They work to rehabilitate dogs and cats in a home-like environment with round-the-clock care to help them adjust to their new lives. In many cases when research dogs come to Kindness Ranch, they have never played with another dog or toys, experienced the outdoors, touched grass, been on a walk and they are not potty trained. Most of the animals that come to Kindness Ranch are adopted to their fur-ever homes to lead happy, fulfilling lives as a family pet. Animals who are too debilitated, old or ill to be adopted can remain on the ranch to live out their days, surrounded by caretakers and volunteers who put the animals’ well-being first. Since it was founded in 2006, Kindness Ranch has provided sanctuary to 1,162 Animals.
The Poverty Busters Giving circle vote to donate to The Gathering Place.
Located in Denver, CO, The Gathering Place is the only daytime drop-in center in metropolitan Denver that serves women, their children, and transgender individuals who are experiencing poverty, many of whom are also experiencing homelessness. Their 28,800 square foot building was specifically designed to be a safe refuge and provides adequate space for their programs and service to an average of 270 women and children a day. 41% of people who use their services have a disability or other significant health condition that impacts their life day-to-day. 33% have experienced some form of abuse. 52% are experiencing homelessness; of those, 34% rely on shelters or motel vouchers; 25% temporarily stay with friends or family; and, 20% make a home in their car.
The Veterans Giving Circle will be donating to the Warriors Heart Foundation
Warriors Heart® provides private treatment to adult men and women who are seeking inpatient treatment for chemical dependency, alcohol abuse, and co-occurring psychological disorders relating to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or the psychological effects of MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury). They are a privately funded treatment center located in San Antonio, and they only treat active military, veterans, firefighters, police, and EMTs.
The Warriors Heart Foundation was started to help subsidize their treatment expenses at the Warrior Heart facility. Currently the Veterans Administration (VA) only covers a small portion of private treatment and this care is primarily done in psychiatric hospitals. In comparison, Warriors Heart treats the “whole body”, including chemical dependencies, PTSD and other mild co-occurring disorders. Services include detox, inpatient residential treatment services, intensive outpatient, one-on-one therapy, sober living facilities, trained emotional support animals. They recently appeared on The Today Show, and you can watch their segment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBsq6_0ZDo.
