$11 Million Gift for Shelter Medicine Education Breaks Record at University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine

PLEASANTON, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maddie's Fund^® is pleased to announce its grant of $11,220,221 to University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine in support of its shelter medicine education program. This is the largest award for veterinary education ever received by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine from a corporation or foundation.

This record-breaking amount was reached with the most recent installment of $4,192,657 grant from Maddie's Fund, a family foundation established by Workday co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. "This is the largest investment we've made to a single institution for shelter medicine," says, Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Maddie's Fund's Executive Leadership Team, "and underscores a critical issue the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine is addressing. While U.S. animal shelters take in nearly 8 million dogs and cats every year, more shelters should have a veterinarian on staff to oversee medical, housing, and welfare policies or provide necessary medical care."

"This grant will allow our program to provide the necessary training to veterinarians and veterinary students with the specialized knowledge they need to take on that job" said Dr. Cynda Crawford, Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Program Director at the University of Florida. "Our program is the largest of its kind in the world, and thanks to Maddie, we have provided training to veterinarians now working in shelters all over the United States as well as in other countries. We are regularly consulted by shelters on how to prevent and treat diseases in their animals and to improve their well-being. We work with shelters to help their animals get adopted and conduct research that has saved the lives of countless homeless dogs and cats."

Dr. Laurie Peek, Executive Leadership Team at Maddie's Fund said, "The kind of care an animal-loving public expects from its animal shelters isn't possible without specialized veterinary expertise. The University of Florida has proven they can train future and current practicing veterinarians in those skills, and make a measurable change in both welfare and lifesaving for our nation's shelter animals."

In addition to educating the University of Florida veterinary students on campus, the program has used its funding from Maddie's Fund to create online courses to train practicing veterinarians and veterinary students at other schools in shelter medicine. Participants around the globe can now earn a certificate or Master's degree in shelter medicine. Through award-winning onsite and online education, it addresses the critical gaps in specialized shelter medicine education for both veterinary students and veterinarians.

Thanks to Maddie, the program is now open to non-veterinary shelter management staff, who will benefit from the expertise of University of Florida faculty, veterinarians and veterinary students who are taking the courses.

About the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida

The Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program is dedicated to helping shelters achieve their lifesaving goals, training the shelter medical professionals of today and tomorrow, and developing new knowledge to enhance the well-being of sheltered animals. Since its inception in July 2008, the University of Florida's program has grown to become the largest of its kind in the world. The Program mission is to enhance the health and welfare of homeless animals through education, innovation, and advancement of the life-saving goals of sheltering programs, with a vision of a comfortable and enriched life for all companion animals.

About Maddie's Fund^®

Maddie's Fund^® is a family foundation founded in 1994 by Workday co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, they have awarded more than $172 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet adoptions across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie's Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and comforted them during stressful business times when Dave was launching a startup software company. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl from 1987 - 1997 and continues to inspire them today.

Maddie's Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog and the creation of a goal towards achieving a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home. #ThanksToMaddie.

Contact: Sharon Fletcher
[email protected] 
Phone: 925-310-5458

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151112/286789

SOURCE Maddie's Fund