Community Foundation Awards $50,000 Grants to Dogs for Life, Humane Society

Indian River Community Foundation awarded two competitive grants of $50,000 each to two animal-related charities serving the Indian River County community. Both grants were awarded from the Community Enrichment Fund.

The first $50,000 grant was awarded to Dogs for Life to support the organization’s Assistance Dogs for Veterans program. This program rescues dogs from local shelters, pairs them with local veterans suffering from one or more disabling conditions, and provides them with assistance dog certification. “Since 2015, this program has serviced approximately 150 veterans and has rescued more than 75 dogs from local shelters,” said executive director Shelly Ferger. “Something special happens when these animals and veterans come together, and we are grateful for this support.”

The second $50,000 grant was awarded to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County to support the organization’s Pet Spot Mobile Adoption Unit and Clinic. Grant funding will be used by the organization to purchase and operate a mobile trailer, supporting the organization’s work in underserved areas of Indian River County. “Last year, we facilitated thousands of pet adoptions in our community,” said executive director, Michael Mandel. “This mobile outreach program will extend our mission into parts of our community that we have been unable to reach in the past. We are very excited about the potential impact this will make.”

While most of the Community Foundation’s grants are awarded by clients through donor advised funds, Indian River Community Foundation’s competitive grant program is made possible through the generosity of anonymous donors to several grantmaking funds. These valuable resources support the Community Foundation’s mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy.