The Roanoke Valley SPCA is trying to win a $100-thousand contest to help it set up a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in the area. The contest is sponsored by the national ASPCA. The local chapter’s Tracy Smith says to get to the next level, Roanoke needs you go on-line and vote every day between now and April 15th. As of Thursday morning, the Roanoke SPCA was number 58 and only the top 50 will make it to the next level of the contest.
News Release
Roanoke Valley SPCA Takes on ASPCA $100K Challenge Qualifying Heat
Community Support Needed for Chance to Win $100,000 Grant
and Save More Lives
Roanoke, VA – Beginning April 4, 2011, the Roanoke Valley SPCA will be a participant in the Qualifying Heat of this year’s ASPCA $100K Challenge, competing for grants totaling $300,000 from the ASPCA, including a top prize of $100,000.
“The ASPCA $100K Challenge is a great motivator for our staff, Board of Directors and the citizens and businesses of Roanoke to get involved – to help connect hundreds of the beautiful, fun, loving cats and dogs in our shelter with the right families,” said Bill Watson, Executive Director. “Working hard together, we will save hundreds of animals and enrich the lives of new adopting families. It is also our wish to be able to provide a local low-cost spay & neuter facility to meet the needs of our community. A $100,000 grant would put us a step closer to achieving that goal.” Watson adds, “Our first step is the Qualifying Heat where, with votes from our supporters and volunteers, we’ll qualify to compete in the Challenge itself.”
The 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge is a nationwide competition for animal shelters (and their communities) aiming to get more animals adopted or returned to their owners than ever before. This first phase is the Qualifying Heat where registered shelters compete to accumulate the most online votes from their supporters. The 50 shelters with the most votes become the official contestants for the 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge.
Supporters of the RVSPCA can help by voting online at www.votetosavelives.org, or by visiting www.rvspca.org and clicking on the Qualifying Heat button. Voting occurs from April 4 to 15, 2011.
In the 7 years since the RVSPCA opened its no kill adoption and education center at 1340 Baldwin Avenue, Roanoke, more than 12,000 homeless and unwanted animals have found loving homes. Pets much like Sissie, an 11 year old Collie mix, suddenly without a home due to the economy or Charlie, a Black lab mix found starving and injured along the Blue Ridge Parkway, find a second chance through the adoption services of the RVSPCA.
