Whenever you see one of those rising thermometer signs that track the upward progress of a fundraising campaign, you love to see when the progress threatens to explode through the top of the scale. While the sign foretelling a new home for the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan in Royalton Township has been making progress with multiple donations and challenge grants, that capital campaign has the opportunity to literally soar in the next three weeks if supporters really step up in that time period.
Word comes today from some of the most ardent supporters of the Humane Society of a new $100,000 Matching Donation to the capital campaign for all dollars raised to that level between now and June 1st.
Philip and Becky Laney will match donations totaling $100,000 between now and the first of next month. All funds will be directed to the Building Fund Capital Campaign. You can help kickstart that effort right now by clicking the link at the end of this story, or at the Humane Society’s major fundraising parties still slated for this month.
Essentially, if donors manage to come up with $100,000 between now and June 1st, it will automatically turn into $200,000 thanks to the Laneys, and could actually trigger the actual physical start of the new $2-million shelter along M-139 in Royalton Township just south of the Concord Ridge Equestrian Center.
Those who raise bidding paddles at this at the May 20th Annual Bids for Barks Auction at Pier 1000 Marina will have the opportunity to help complete that match, however, only straight-up cash, check and credit card “raise your paddle” bids will count toward the match, not all bids for merchandise and services at that event.
It’s the second time a major matching offer has emerged. Last year the Berrien County-based Frederick S. Upton Foundation issued a $150,000 Challenge Grant to support that construction project by matching all donations up to $75,000 in 2016 and again in 2017. Both of those challenges have been met, turning the donations into a total of $300,000.
The Humane Society of SW Michigan operates the only no-kill shelter in all of Berrien County, currently located at 641 South Crystal Avenue in Benton Harbor. The current shelter, built in 1963, is undersized, outdated, inefficient and in need of costly repairs. At full capacity, the shelter is home to only about 60 dogs and 100 cats. A new shelter is vital to the organization’s mission to provide a safe haven for homeless dogs and cats in Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Land for the new shelter has been purchased on M-139, north of John Beers Road in Royalton Township. Construction plans include a new medical area, administration, training and education sections, and separate wings for the dogs and cats. The new shelter will significantly increase the number of animals rescued, preventing them from ending up in high kill facilities.
Anyone interested in learning more about the shelter plans or donating to the Capital Building Fund can visit their website by clicking this link: http://www.humanesocietyswm.org. Once there, simply click the “Capital Campaign” tab in the upper menu. Donations can be made by PayPal or credit card through the website, by calling the shelter at 269-927-3303, or by mailing payment to 641 Crystal Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI 49022. The organization also accepts donations through the Berrien Community Foundation.
The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan was formed in 1934. Its mission is to provide food, shelter and medical care for the homeless, abused and unwanted cats and dogs in southwest Michigan. Its secondary goals include finding forever homes for the animals in its care, and educating the public concerning responsible pet ownership.
