Friends of PACC Launches Veterinary Care Legacy Fund
$3.1M bequest will seed the fund
PIMA COUNTY, AZ – Friends of Pima Animal Care Center has announced a major commitment to address affordable veterinary access in Pima County. The nonprofit organization is creating a Veterinary Care Legacy Fund to provide sustainable, long-term funding for veterinary care for vulnerable animals. The Veterinary Care Legacy Fund will launch with $3.1 million in seed funding from a recently received anonymous bequest.
The Veterinary Care Legacy Fund will operate like an endowment, using annual investment earnings to fund three Friends of PACC veterinary programs and ensure sustained funding for decades. As part of its 10-year celebration, Friends of PACC announced plans to secure $10 million in estate gift commitments to create the Legacy Fund. The $3.1 million bequest officially launches the Legacy Fund, turning the plan into reality and creating long-term support for Pima County’s most vulnerable pets.
“Sustaining our most impactful programs is a priority for Friends of PACC,” stated Board Chair Jill Bemis. “It’s truly remarkable that we can launch the Veterinary Care Legacy Fund so quickly due to this incredible donation.”
The donation came from the estate of an animal-loving Pima County resident. The donor didn’t want any recognition, only that it be used to help animals in the local community.
The programs supported by the Veterinary Care Legacy Fund are intended to address veterinary care issues affecting PACC today, tomorrow, and in the future: Today – the Medical Needs program, providing specialized veterinary care for animals already at PACC and enhancing their adoption prospects; Tomorrow – the Keeping Families Together program, providing veterinary assistance to pets from vulnerable families and keeping them from being surrendered to PACC; and Future – the Spay/Neuter Support program, making spay/neuter accessible to vulnerable households and reducing the number of pet litters brought to the shelter. Together, these programs support thousands of pets and families across Pima County each year.
Animals like Sombra will benefit from the Veterinary Care Legacy Fund. Four-month-old Sombra hit a rough spot after accidentally eating chicken bones and contracting parvo. Support from the Keeping Families Together program enabled Sombra to receive obstruction surgery and parvo treatment. She also received a spay courtesy of the Spay/Neuter Support program. Instead of being surrendered to PACC, Sombra got to go home with her family, thanks to Friends of PACC’s donor-funded lifesaving programs.
Limited access to affordable veterinary care contributes to chronic overcrowding at Pima Animal Care Center. The impact shows up in many ways. Nearly one-third of families surrendering pets to PACC cite access to veterinary care as a factor. Kittens and puppies account for over 30% of all pets brought to the shelter, while unresolved medical issues prolong stays and cause unnecessary suffering for PACC animals. The Veterinary Care Legacy Fund will support programs directly addressing these ongoing challenges.
Pets already at PACC will benefit, too. Jimmy, a 13-year-old stray, arrived at PACC with a severe respiratory infection, mouth ulcers, anemia, and advanced dental disease. Through the Medical Needs program, he received ICU care and emergency dental surgery. He made a remarkable recovery, soon acting like a kitten again, playing, zooming, and even fetching toys. Today, Jimmy is enjoying life in his forever home.
“Our goal is to grow the Legacy Fund to $10 million through estate donations,” said Friends of PACC CEO Torre Chisholm. “We invite our supporters to help create a true legacy for expanding veterinary access and helping vulnerable pets.”
Animal advocates can help build the Legacy Fund in several ways, including designating Friends of PACC as a beneficiary of a trust, will, IRA, or life insurance policy. Interested parties can contact Friends of PACC at torre@friendsofpacc.org for more information on supporting the Legacy Fund.
“This is an amazing step towards creating systemic support for pets and people who need help the most,” Chisholm said. “We hope it’s the first of many such commitments to build a better future for PACC and local animals.”
About Friends of PACC
Friends of PACC is the official nonprofit, philanthropic partner of Pima Animal Care Center. Its mission is to support Pima Animal Care Center and enhance its efforts to save the lives of pets in need. Its vision is that every pet served by Pima Animal Care Center is supported with the resources needed for a safe, healthy, and happy future. Follow Friends of PACC on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X and TikTok.