Endowment Fund will Benefit Homeless Burbank Animals
BURBANK, Calif., April 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Through the generosity of a humble woman, the Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter (VBAS) will benefit from the new VBAS Endowment Fund to provide funding toward the care of homeless animals in Burbank. A short program to publicly announce the Fund is set for 9 a.m. Sunday, April 12, at the Shelter, 1150 N. Victory Place in Burbank.
The late Mary P. Brown left approximately $75,000 toward the Fund managed by the Community Foundation of the Verdugos (CFV), a public 501(c)(3) that has provided donor advised fund management since 1956.
Brown's gift exemplifies how someone of any means can support causes in a way that adds permanence to the organization being supported. Mrs. Brown, who loved animals dearly, had worked as a secretary for many years at an area hospital. When it came to making plans, she took her knowledge of the CFV to help weave the causes most dear to her into gifts that would leave a lasting legacy. "I am proud to be able to assist with the unveiling of this endowed Fund because it is the first to be designated for our community's animal residents," said CEO Edna Karinski. "In setting this Fund up with the CFV, Mary was assured there would be a funding source for the Burbank Animal Shelter in perpetuity upon her passing."
Though the Fund was made possible through Brown's bequest, it was her wish that it be called the VBAS Endowment Fund, another layer to her humble nature in making sure that animals would come first.
Heading up the VBAS are Board Chair Alexis Cole, Finance Chair Chris De Zorzi, Secretary Sharon Wang, Board Member Jill Gardner, Volunteer Representative to the Board Amy Reynolds, and Development Chair Molly Stretten. "We are thrilled to be the recipient of this generous donation," said Stretten. "As an all-volunteer organization, we will be able to continue our life-saving work for Burbank's homeless pets."
The Shelter is a division of the Burbank Police Department and operated by Animal Control Officers and Kennel Attendants. The VBAS assists with front desk work, adoptions, exercising, socializing, and grooming. In 2014, the VBAS fostered 255 kittens resulting in a one-hundred percent adoption rate of newborn kittens entering the shelter; purchased an x-ray machine; re-homed more than 30 barn cats; and donated 13,500 hours in labor to the Shelter.
"This Fund lets donors support the long term work of the VBAS so that animals in years to come will benefit from services offered at the Shelter," said CFV Board Chair Ernest P. Burger. "Our goal is to be a foundation of the community and the new VBAS Endowment is another example of this."
While donors can donate to this Fund at any time, the CFV's investment activities contribute to its growth annually. The Foundation also manages over 95 funds and is currently initiating the Glendale-Burbank DNA Justice Project, a campaign raising $250,000 to make the Verdugo Regional Crime Lab a self-sustaining asset for the Burbank and Glendale Police Departments.
For more information about the CFV's work, please go to www.cfverdugos.org.
CONTACT: Edna Karinski
(818) 241-8040
Cell (818) 253-5152
SOURCE Community Foundation of the Verdugos
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