The Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services celebrated its 10th anniversary this year by awarding $55,000 to 10 organizations.
Since 2011, the Remy Fund has provided $400,000 in grants to companion animal nonprofits that serve Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties.
“Especially in this challenging time, our Remy Fund grants provide much needed support to dedicated nonprofits that are making a significant positive impact on the lives of animals, and the humans they touch, in our community,” said founder Ken Jackson.
This year, VP Funds, a supporter of nonprofits that encourage “kindness, consideration, and common sense,” donated $100,000 to increase the endowment of the Remy Fund.
Organizations receiving funds this year include Alabama Spay Neuter, $10,000, to support spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats through the Remy Snip program; Shelby Humane Society, $10,000, to support the Shelby Spay Neuter Program for dogs and cats in Shelby County; Walker County Humane Society, $10,000, to provide low or no-cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats in Walker County; Bama Bully Rescue, $5,000, to provide care for pit bulls and other “bully” breeds that have been abandoned, abused or neglected; Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue, $5,000, to provide food, litter and spay and neuter surgeries; MomaKat Rescue, $5,000, to provide care and adoption support for rescued kittens, including medical care, spay and neuter surgeries and socialization; Special Equestrians, $4,000, to provide care for horses in the animal-assisted equine therapy program; Adopt a Golden Birmingham, $2,500, to support spay and neuter surgeries, routine and specialist veterinary services and boarding for dogs with special medical needs; Episcopal Place, $2,500, meeting the needs of residents’ companion animals, including on-site grooming, annual vaccinations and checkups, and a pet food pantry; and The Red Mountain Park Fund, $1,000, to provide updated location and informational signage for Remy’s Dog Park.
The Remy Fund is a Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and was established by Jackson. Its name pays homage to the memory of his late dog Remy, a Jack Russell-Shih Tzu Mix.
Jackson has provided more than $750,000 to the fund and is the donor of Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park. He also serves as an ex officio member of the Remy Fund Grant Committee, which conducts in-depth site visits with all grant finalists.
This year, site visits were conducted in person and virtually by committee members Debra Linton, committee chair, Cathy Adams, Maggie McDonald, Brenda Bell Guercio, Sandy Logan, Dr. James “Murphy” Lynch, Beverly Virciglio, Cameron Vowell and Laura Wainwright.
The grant cycle for 2021 will open for applications March 15.
For more information, visit cfbham.org/remy-fund/.
—Emily Williams