In addition to caring for thousands of animals each year, the TAILS Humane Society offers several different programs to enrich the lives of DeKalb area residents, including the Catalyst Program, which serves at-risk youth. To assist with this effort, employees from the Waterman Illinois Research Facility selected TAILS to receive a $3,750 grant from the Monsanto Fund’s 2015 site grant initiative. Representatives from the organization and the fund celebrated the grant with a check presentation on June 22.
The Catalyst Program provides opportunities for at-risk teens and pre-teens to benefit from the human-animal bond and make positive changes in their lives, at local animal shelters and communities. The youth work one-on-one with adult mentors to develop the skills necessary for a career in animal-focused humanitarian work.
“The grant will help the Catalyst youth build upon their social skills,” said TAILS Development and Marketing Manager Heather Short. “They benefit enormously from this program, but it is truly a good program for everyone involved. The adult mentors report a great deal of personal satisfaction through their involvement. The shelter animals benefit as well, because they receive extra love and care.
Nancy Leffler, a contract employee with the Northern Corn Pathology program at the Waterman Illinois Research Facility, has volunteered with TAILS for three years as a dog mentor. Leffler works with several dogs on a regular basis to help them with obedience training, leash walking and feeling at ease and confident in all kinds of situations. Additionally, in 2014, 40 site employees and their families participated in the annual TAILS Mutt Strut, a 5K Run/Walk-a-thon at the local park.
“I am thrilled that TAILS is receiving this grant,” said Leffler. “Our community is so much better off because of them. TAILS provides a loving and nurturing shelter for homeless animals, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice and other small animal pets. Rescuing and caring for homeless animals is an expensive operation and grants are very important to the livelihood of the entire shelter
This year, the Monsanto Fund awarded more than $1.2 million to nonprofit organizations through the site grant initiative to help address essential needs in rural communities.
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About the Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.
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