'Friends' Gala Raises Funds for Animal Hospital
A nonprofit charitable group kicked off its fund-raising drive to build an emergency animal hospital at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.
The group, The Friends of the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, hosted a luncheon gala Monday at the home of Don and Jeannette Reuben in Rancho Mirage. Don Reuben is a vice chairman of the Friends' board.
All members of the Friends of the Coachella Valley Animal Campus are unpaid volunteers. The organization has already accomplished several projects for the shelter. The group paid for the automatic water bowls in the dog runs and also built awnings for outside get-acquainted areas so visitors can meet their future lifelong companions in a more comfortable, shaded location.
Monday's lunch guests donated $100 per seat to help in the cause. Larger donations came from some of the Coachella Valley's prominent animal-loving residents, according to Friends Chairman Sam Esposito. Myron and JoAnn Chlavin jumpstarted the fund-raising efforts with the largest donations to date, he said.
"This wasn't just a fund-raising luncheon," Esposito said. "It was also an event to give people a chance to get to know the Friends of the Coachella Valley Animal Campus and hear what we'd like to do."
Esposito noted that government shelters are not mandated to have emergency hospitals.
"So trying to build one for this shelter is our community's way of saying that we'd like to add more resources to help homeless animals that are seriously injured."
Riverside County Chief Veterinarian Dr. Allan Drusys said that the emergency hospital is a major project that the county does not have the budget to build on its own.
"We will be forever grateful to this amazing group of volunteer professionals that are donating their time and money toward this noble endeavor," he said.
Those interested in joining the Friends or want to learn more can call 343-3644, Ext. 270. For more information on the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, check out their website: www.rcdas.org