Michelson Found Animals’ “Saving Pets Challenge” Raises Nearly $1.3 Million for Shelter/Rescue Animals across the U.S.

-Nearly 600 pet groups across the country participated in CrowdRise
online fundraising challenge to raise money for their causes-

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The
Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Inc. announced today results of
the third annual “Saving
Pets Challenge”, a 32-day fundraiser which involved nearly 600
animal welfare organizations across the country, raised nearly $1.3
million dollars for shelter animals. While the Saving Pets Challenge had
pet charities nationwide working together for the ultimate goal of
saving pets, they were each rallying their individual communities to
raise money for their specific efforts in local communities. The grand
prize winner of the Saving Pets Challenge came from Houston, Texas; the
fourth largest city in the country. Rescued Pets Movement Inc. in
Houston rallied their community to raise more than $146,000 to save
2,665 death-row dogs and cats, earning them the number one position in
this year’s challenge and an additional $60,100 in a cash grant from the
Michelson Found Animals Foundation.

“We first want to applaud all of the dedicated animal welfare
organizations that entered this year’s challenge and to thank them for
all they do day in and day out to help pets in their communities,” said
Dr. Gary Michelson, Founder of Found Animals. “We’re especially proud to
recognize all of our fundraisers and to award additional cash grants to
this year’s winners, to further recognize their efforts and assist their
cause.”

The top five groups below raised the most money during the 2016 Saving
Pets Challenge earning them additional cash grants from the Michelson
Found Animals Foundation. Including the weekly challenge prizes, all the
organizations involved competed for more than $150,000 in grants.

• First Place: Rescued Pet Movement – Houston, TX
  • $60,100 cash grant for raising $146,921
  • $35,300 cash grant for raising $135,078
  • $23,050 cash grant for raising $96,597
  • $10,100 cash grant for raising $86,158
  • $5,325 cash grant for raising $56,875

  “It was so exciting to see the many ways in which our participating
  organizations went above and beyond in terms of their fundraising
  efforts,” said Aimee Gilbreath, Found Animals Executive Director. “The
  ideas were limitless – from a Cat Town staffer who hiked 60 miles from
  San Jose to Oakland to raise awareness of their effort, to a volunteer
  from New Mexico’s Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society who staged a
  dog kennel live-in for two days to garner publicity.”

  This year’s Challenge began Tuesday, July 5th at 12:00pm EST, and ended
  Thursday, August 4th at 1:59:59pm EST and was again hosted through
  popular fundraising platform, CrowdRise.

  The inaugural Michelson Found Animals Saving Pets Challenge Fundraiser
  began in 2014 and raised more than $1 million in 2014 during its
  fundraising competition, and reached more than 175 humane societies,
  municipal sheltering agencies, spay/neuter clinics and rescue
  organizations.

  To view the full results of the 2016 Saving Pets Challenge, visit www.crowdrise.com/SavingPetsChallenge.
  For more information on the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, please
  visit www.FoundAnimals.org.

  About Michelson Found Animals Foundation

  The Michelson Found Animals Foundation is a non-profit supporting
  pet-owners and animal welfare organizations; our mission is Saving
  Pets, Enriching Lives. After celebrating a decade of service to
  animals, we continue to grow as we find new and innovative ways to help
  pets and the people who care for them. In addition to creating the first
  free microchip registry, we now have our own adoption centers, research
  next generation spay/neuter technology, and sell affordable high quality
  products—all in the service of pets. Our unique perspective into all
  aspects of animal welfare allows us to better support pet owners and pet
  professionals alike. All of this is possible thanks to generous funding
  from Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson.

  See how we’re using our brains and expertise to obtain real,
  sustainable, results at FoundAnimals.org.
  To learn more about our free microchip registry, and the many innovative
  tools that are making it easier to connect lost pets to their people,
  check out found.org.
  Our spay/neuter technology research is at michelsonprizeandgrants.org.
  And to find out more about our Adopt & Shop locations, where all profits
  go back to caring for our adoptable pets, take a look at adoptandshop.org.

  About CrowdRise

  CrowdRise is the world’s largest and fastest growing online platform
  dedicated exclusively to charitable fundraising. CrowdRise is used by
  millions of individuals, tens of thousands of charities, hundreds of
  companies and many of the most famous artists and athletes in the world
  to creatively leverage their resources and networks to unlock the power
  of the crowd to support positive social missions and create massive
  impact.

  Founded by actor Edward Norton, film producer Shauna Robertson and
  Robert and Jeffrey Wolfe, CrowdRise has conceived, implemented and
  powered campaigns that have raised hundreds of millions dollars to date.
  For more information visit www.CrowdRise.com.

  Contacts

  The Impetus Agency
  Jamie Baxter, 775.322.4022
  Jamie@theimpetusagency.com