Friends of Miami Animals – Be A Friend Fundraiser

On January  15, 2020,  Friends of Miami Animals (“FoMA”)  hosted its inaugural “Be A Friend” fundraiser raising nearly $200,000 in donations.   About 180 of the organization’s friends gathered to show support for FoMA and its mission to save and improve the lives of pets in Miami-Dade County. Guests spent the evening learning more about the issues faced by homeless pets and pets of low income qualified pet owners and the solutions FoMA provides.

 

Dignitaries in attendance included Mayor Carlos A. Giménez of Miami-Dade, Mayor Oliver Gilbert of Miami Gardens, State Senator René García, and Commissioners Danielle Levine Cava, Sally Heyman, and Jean Monestine of Miami-Dade County.

 

With the addition of a matching grant from Potamkin Philanthropies, the donations will total approximately $500,000 and will be used to fund a new mobile veterinarian clinic for a full year in partnership with Miami Dade Animal Services and Miami-Dade County for an initial three-year test project.   The clinic will bring basic veterinary services and vouchers for free spay/neuter services to pets of low-income qualified pet owners who are unable to provide adequate care in economically challenged areas of Miami-Dade County.

 

“This mobile veterinarian clinic will make an enormous impact on the health and wellness of pets in our county. It’s just one of our many programs to provide care to animals in need,” said Brigitt Rok-Potamkin, a founding member of FoMA and the hostess of the evening.

 

Yolanda Berkowitz, President of FoMA, said, “We’re a young foundation, but we’ve already made such important progress towards controlling pet overpopulation crisis in Miami-Dade County. This clinic augments our existing support of at-risk pets exponentially.”

 

About FoMA

 

Since 2016, Friends of Miami Animals Foundation (FoMA) has been a leader in animal welfare issues committed to helping homeless pets, community pets and the people who love them. The foundation helps build effective programs, establishing meaningful collaborations and engaging leaders and the community to save and improve the lives of homeless pets. Its work includes spay and neuter programs, shelter and rescue assistance, and support for animal rescue.

 

Watch this video to learn more about FoMA’s work and donate to the cause at fomapets.org below: