Humane Society Silicon Valley Board Offers $1.2M Challenge Grant to Complete New Building Campaign

MILPITAS, Calif., April 13, 2009 — Humane Society Silicon Valley's (HSSV's) Board of Directors has issued a $1.2 million challenge grant that will match dollar for dollar all gifts received through June 30, 2009 to complete the nonprofit's new Animal Community Center building campaign. HSSV has raised $20.7 million in public donations toward the $25 million project and has to raise approximately $4.3 million to close the campaign.

"Less than 18-months after we broke ground on our new Animal Community Center, we have opened our doors - a feat that we could not have accomplished without the support of the more than 5,000 individuals, families and businesses that have come forward with generous gifts moving us closer to our goal of $25 million," says Kate Mulligan, HSSV board chair. "Now that we are so close to achieving our ultimate goal, we want to encourage the public to make a campaign gift to help us complete the campaign."

Christine Benninger, HSSV president, says she is thrilled that the Board of Directors, who has already led the way with significant support for the campaign, has issued the $1.2 million challenge grant. "This is a unique opportunity, and I encourage the public to join in the spirit of this challenge and help double the impact of the Board's support by making a gift to the campaign by June 30th," Benninger says.

New, Environmentally Friendly Animal Center
Earlier this month, HSSV opened the doors of its new Animal Community Center in Milpitas. The one-of-a-kind facility -- the nation's first environmentally-certified "green" animal shelter to offer an adoption program with a full spectrum of pet and community services under one roof -- represents a radical shift in thinking about sheltering. Animals are housed in cage-less habitats that resemble rooms in homes in order to reduce animal stress and enable real world training opportunities.

In addition to finding lost and abandoned pets loving homes, HSSV's new Animal Community Center offers daycare, boarding & grooming services, a dog park and training center, a medical center specializing in affordable spaying/neutering, a community room, a veterinary hospital with a public viewing alcove, an education center offering programs for children, teens and families, a pet store and a pet-friendly cafe.

"Our new Animal Community Center represents the culmination of a dream to eliminate homeless pets in the Bay Area, and we hope the public will make that final step to help us realize that dream," Benninger explains.

Individuals interested in donating to the campaign can contact HSSV at 408-262-2133 ext. 134 or visit: http://giving.hssv.org/campaign

About Humane Society Silicon Valley
Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) is an independent, non-profit agency offering quality adoptions, medical care, education programs and pet care services to enhance the human-animal bond. HSSV recently opened a new Animal Community Center in Milpitas that is expected to be the first LEED Gold certified animal shelter in the U.S. that offers a full spectrum of pet and community services under one roof. HSSV is an "open door" facility, accepting animals 24-hours a day, seven days a week. More information can be found at www.hssv.org.

SOURCE Humane Society Silicon Valley