ASPCA foster program helps Baldwin Park Animal Care Center increase the number of four-to eight-week-old kittens who leave the shelter with positive outcomes by 60 percentage points
LOS ANGELES – WEBWIRE – Thursday, June 1, 2023
TheASPCA(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) today announced a significant achievement by caring for its 10,000thkitten through theASPCA Kitten Foster Programin Los Angeles. The program recruits, trains, and supports volunteer foster caregivers of kittens under eight weeks old who are too young to be cared for in Los Angeles County Animal Care Centers.
This milestone comes during the height of breeding season for felines, a time of year when shelters nationwide are overwhelmed with newborn cats. Shelters in climates like Los Angeles experience a steady stream of kittens year-round, but they also tend to see a marked increase in kittens entering shelters during the spring and summer months. Kittens under eight weeks often require round-the-clock attention, a resource that many shelters dont have, so foster programs that support frequent bottle-feeding, medical check-ups, and socialization are crucial to help these young kittens grow and find loving homes.
The 10,000thkitten, a calico female named Delta, entered the ASPCA foster program when she was only five days old after being found alone near a major freeway in Los Angeles. At that age, Deltas eyes and ears were still closed and her foster caregiver bottle-fed her every two to three hours. Deltas foster caregiver notes that she loves to be cuddled and held. Delta, now 6 weeks old, is healthy and strong and will soon beavailable for adoptionfrom the ASPCA in Los Angeles.
Each of the 10,000 foster kittens cared for by the ASPCA Foster Program in Los Angeles represents a key step toward a safer and kinder community for animals overall, said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. Were proud to partner with the County on this lifesaving program, and we thank our partners, foster caregivers, and communities for their compassion and dedication to these vulnerable cats and kittens.
In partnership with Los Angeles County Animal Care Centers, the ASPCA identified cats as the most at-risk animal population in Los Angeles, and in 2017, launched the ASPCA Los Angeles Kitten Foster Program at Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, which sees the highest number of kittens in the county with an average of more than 400 four-to eight-week-old kittens entering the shelter each year. Since the programs start, the number of kittens ages four to eight weeks old who left Baldwin Park Animal Care Center alive has increased by 60 percentage points and the euthanasia rate has decreased by 57 percentage points. The ASPCA has since expanded its foster program to include kittens who enter Downey Animal Care Center, and in the future hopes to make a larger impact for kittens at all county animal care centers, including Carson/Gardena, Lancaster, and Palmdale.
We are truly grateful to the ASPCA for their partnership in saving these most vulnerable animals, said Marcia Mayeda, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control. This important milestone speaks to the value of public-private partnership in resolving the difficult challenges we face in saving animals lives. The ASPCA is to be commended for their commitment, dedication, and generosity in their efforts to save underage kittens.
The ASPCA Los Angeles Kitten Foster Program has an ongoing need for foster caregivers who are willing to provide frequent bottle-feedings to the youngest kittens. To learn more about how to foster kittens in Los Angeles and to complete an online application, please visitASPCA.org/FosterLA. The ASPCA also encourages residents to learn what to do if they find stray kittens outside by visiting itsonline tool. Oftentimes, the best way to help kittens found outside is to leave them where they are so their mom can take care of them rather than bring them to a shelter unless the kittens appear sick or injured.
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About the ASPCA
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nations leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visitwww.ASPCA.org
Nov 17, 2022 | Books, Business
Causeway’s 5th Annual 5K, presented by Causeway Family of Dealerships and Causeway CARes, raises $60,000.
Causeway’s 5th Annual 5K raises $60,000
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. – Nov. 15, 2022 – PRLog — The 5th Annual Causeway 5K, presented by Causeway Family of Dealerships and Causeway CARes, was held on October 16th at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin. The event saw 200 attendees, 80 sponsors and raised $30,000. David C. Wintrode, President of Causeway Family of Dealerships/Causeway CARes graciously matched that amount, bringing the grand total to $60,000 – making this Causeway’s most successful 5K to date. All event proceeds were donated to Fulfill and Family Promise of Southern Ocean County.
“We carefully selected Fulfill and Family Promise of Southern Ocean County as this year’s 5K beneficiaries because both organizations are on a mission to battle hunger and homelessness in Ocean County, which is something that Causeway cares deeply about,” said Wintrode.
Fulfill has been a 5K beneficiary since the race’s inception five years ago. The nonprofit’s mission is to alleviate hunger and build food security in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and make sure that all people at all times have access to enough nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life.
This year, Family Promise of Southern Ocean County was also selected as a 5K beneficiary. Its mission is to partner with communities to guide homeless children and their families toward achieving sustainable independence.
Joe Stroffolino, Race Director/Director of Advertising and Marketing, Causeway Cars/Causeway CARes, is a board member for both nonprofits. “I felt a strong obligation to drastically increase our sponsor count,” he said. “We successfully went from 47 sponsors in 2021 in support of Fulfill to 80 sponsors by adding Family Promise of Southern Ocean County as our second beneficiary this year.”
“What I love about partnering these two organizations together is it really reflects a reality of the people that we serve, which is that they don’t experience housing issues in isolation, and they don’t experience food insecurity in isolation,” said Triada Stampas, President and CEO of Fulfill.
There is a common saying at Fulfill – rent eats first.
“Food insecurity is the canary in the coal mine,” Stampas said. “Families are on the brink of distress because households tend to guard their resources to protect the roof over their head and then start to make sacrifices where they can – and that often is food.”
Together, Fulfill and Family Promise of Southern Ocean County take a collective approach when it comes to fighting hunger and homelessness.
“This approach is based on lived experience,” said Stampas. “People do not experience these struggles in isolation and that is the really beautiful part of this partnership.”
The numbers show the impact. In fact, every dollar donated to Fulfill provides three meals to those in need.
“We are the food bank that serves Ocean County and Monmouth County by servicing a network of 300 organizations – mostly food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other distribution sites,” Stampas added.
Fulfill is emerging out of a COVID response and headed straight into an inflation response.
“When we look at the statistics, the number of people who have been accessing our pantry network went up 60 percent between January and June of this year,” said Stampas. “Typically, we see a dip in the summer because of seasonal employment. This summer, we did not see that dip. This really demonstrates the impact that inflation has on the households that we serve. Food is one of the sacrifices that people make when budgets get pinched.”
Family Promise of Southern Ocean County is one of Fulfill’s community partners.
“This funding that Causeway CARes generously provided to Family Promise of Southern Ocean County will not only continue to help us to continue to provide food, clothing and toiletries, it will also help us to provide prevention services for families,” said Elizabeth Golla, Executive Director of Family Promise of Southern Ocean County.
Family Promise of Southern Ocean Counties steps in where applicable to help meet families in the midst of the trials they face in order to assist them with paying back rent, back mortgage and utilities. “We also help fix vehicles so that individuals can get to work and that will hopefully prevent them from being homeless in the first place,” Golla added.
Since Fulfill is able to provide food security, Family Promise of Southern Ocean County is able to utilize its funding to help individuals and families before homelessness occurs.
In 2021, Family Promise of Southern Ocean County was able to assist over 1,500 individuals. About 60 percent of that was prevention. “We recently started expanding into all of Ocean County because the need is so high,” said Golla. “In 2022, we have already hit those numbers and the year is not over yet.”
So far in 2022, the nonprofit has provided 3,000 nights of shelter through motels and local churches. In 2021, it assisted with 1,898 bed nights.
Today, Family Promise of Southern Ocean County is in need for funding and partners to support local families by providing shelter. “We have a waiting list of 20 families that are in desperate need of shelters,” Golla said.
Many of Fulfill’s distribution centers and food pantries – including Family Promise of Southern Ocean County – are serving more people than ever before.
“We anticipate that this is going to be a long, sustained response,” Stampas said. “It is the support from community partners like Causeway CARes that helps us sustain our mission and provide the much-needed resources to the community to fight food insecurity.”
To learn more or to donate to Fulfill or Family Promise of Southern Ocean County, please visit https://fulfillnj.org/ or https://www.familypromisesoc.org/.
About Causeway CARes
Causeway CARes’ mission is to make a direct and profound impact in and around Ocean County in the areas of education, food security and quality of life. Founded in 2004 and funded by the Wintrode Family Foundation, Inc., Causeway CARes strives to make the community a better place to live, grow and thrive. To learn more, visit CausewayCARes.com.
Jul 14, 2022 | Books, Business
The donation was made to The HOPE Center in Toms River and was funded in part through a grant from Fulfill.
Causeway CARes donates vehicle to The HOPE Center
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. – July 13, 2022 – PRLog — Causeway CARes donates its 22nd vehicle through the CauseWheels Vehicle Donation Program. The HOPE Center in Toms River graciously accepted the donation, which was funded in part through a grant from Fulfill.
The CauseWheels Vehicle Donation Program began in 2020 following The Causeway Family of Dealership’s 50th Anniversary in 2019. The program’s goal is to help neighbors in need and positively impact Ocean County. Since its inception just a few short years ago, Causeway CARes has donated vehicles to various nonprofit and community organizations with an identified need.
“The timing could not have been more perfect,” said Amy VanBezooijen of The HOPE Center. “After a record-breaking two months in terms of new families coming to us for food security, this van will provide many new possibilities for us to pursue.”
Last month, The HOPE Center received 45 new clients at its food pantry and served 27,680 lbs. of food to 1,748 individuals – the nonprofit’s highest recorded number since its inception. This was an increase of 438 individuals from February.
The HOPE Center receives food deliveries from its partner agency, Fulfill on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Unfortunately, those deliveries are not enough to serve the need that comes through the nonprofit’s doors.
“This van will enable us to pick up food directly from Fulfill on an as needed basis to support our community members,” said VanBezooijen. “We will also have the ability to nurture relationships with other establishments like Wawa, Big Lots, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Starbucks, who have all expressed interest in donating food to The HOPE Center in the past. We just need to provide the transport, which up until now, we simply did not have the means to do.”
That’s where Causeway CARes and Fulfill came in.
VanBezooijen initially contacted Joe Stroffolino, Director of Advertising and Marketing for the Causeway Family of Dealerships to inquire about the availability of a van through the CauseWheels vehicle donation program. “Luckily, we had a van that was recently traded in,” said Stroffolino. “The only issue was the price of the van fell outside the CauseWheels donation parameters. As a Fulfill board member, I asked Amy at The HOPE Center if she had applied for one of Fulfill’s capacity grant, which she had. So, we simply increased the grant request to make up the deficit.”
“The key is always collaboration,” said David C. Wintrode, President of Causeway Family of Dealerships. “That’s the whole purpose of Causeway CARes – to give back to our nonprofit partners. It is our pleasure to partner with The HOPE Center and Fulfill so that they can continue to support even more community members in need.”
And, of course, The HOPE Center is overjoyed at the prospect of doing just that.
“We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our friends at Causeway CARes and Fulfill for making this donation possible,” said VanBezooijen of The HOPE Center. “It is with great compassion that we utilize this van to fulfill our mission by providing food security for those in our community who are struggling. It is just so important for them to know that they are not alone.”
David Shipman, Treasurer of The HOPE Center’s Board of Trustees, says The HOPE Center will be able to grow significantly with this vehicle. “We will not only be able to procure more food, but we will also be able to consider delivering food to homebound clients and open additional avenues of outreach,” he said. “This will allow us to have an even greater impact on feeding the community.”
Causeway CARes Is located at 375 Route 72 West in Manahawkin. To learn more, visit https://causewaycares.com.
About Causeway CARes
Causeway CARes’ mission is to make a direct and profound impact in and around Ocean County in the areas of education, food security and quality of life. Founded in 2004 and funded by the Wintrode Family Foundation, Inc., Causeway CARes strives to make the community a better place to live grow and thrive. To learn more, visit https://causewaycares.com.
Mar 16, 2022 | Books, Business
The donation is being used toward the hospital’s surgical expansion.
Causeway CARes donates to local hospital.
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. – March 15, 2022 – PRLog — In the summer of 1969, David C. Wintrode purchased the original Ford dealership on Bay Avenue in Manahawkin, which is now part of The Causeway Family of Dealerships. At the time, Wintrode was growing a family business while being a driver of community support. That’s when he saw there was a profound need to have a local hospital in the area to serve the residents of southern Ocean County.
Jim Mancini, the then Mayor of Long Beach Township and Ocean County Freeholder, shared the sentiment. In fact, Mancini would stop at nothing to bring a hospital to Manahawkin. After land was donated and fundraising was in tow, Mancini built the hospital and was determined to get the project approved.
“Jim Mancini was a true visionary,” Wintrode remembers. “He saw there was a need and he chased after it. Southern Ocean Medical Center officially opened its doors in 1972.”
Today, nearly 50 years later, Wintrode has seen how much the area’s population has grown and decided he wanted to lend a hand at what is now Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center.
Causeway CARes, funded by The Wintrode Family Foundation, Inc., donated $250,000 to Southern Ocean Medical Center on March 10. The funds are being used toward the hospital’s surgical expansion.
“The hospital is key to the expansion of the southern end of Ocean County,” said Wintrode. “It’s important to the major demographic living in the area, which is predominantly seniors and families with children. After hearing the hospital’s strategic plan for growth, I knew I wanted to help them succeed.”
Southern Ocean Medical Center has been caring for the community for nearly 50 years. With more than 1,200 dedicated health care professionals, the medical center provides comprehensive high-quality, advanced inpatient and outpatient services. But as the population continues to grow in southern Ocean County, the hospital has seen an influx of patients.
“Last year, we saw 300 additional inpatients over budget and 5,000 more patients in our emergency room – that accounts for 45,000 total ER visits,” said Michele Morrison, MPH, BSHA, RN, president and chief hospital executive of Southern Ocean Medical Center. “These are all indicators of how our community is growing here in southern Ocean County. Over the last two years, we have added 200 employees to address the increased need, but our hospital needs to continue expanding to provide the care that our community deserves.”
To continue its growth, Morrison created a strategic plan in early 2021 that was quickly approved and will be implemented in three phases.
Phase 1 initially kicked off in July 2021 with the addition of a Da Vinci® robot that was a $2M acquisition. “In seven short months, we have done over 250 robotic assisted surgeries,” said Morrison. “We are really excited to offer that state-of-the-art technology to our community.”
Phase 2 of the surgery expansion will include its sterile processing department where all the hospital’s equipment is sterilized.
Phase 3 will be the expansion of the operating rooms from four small rooms to six large state-of-the-art operating rooms. “We will also add a second robot, maybe even a third,” said Morrison. “It will be a combined pre-surgical and post-surgical area, which will create an elevated patient experience.”
The entire project is expected to take approximately three years to complete.
In recent years, Hackensack Meridian Health also had the foresight to create its own medical school. “The first class graduated last year,” said Morrison. “The incoming class that started in 2021 has 185 students. We have placed them all within Hackensack Meridian Health. Our goal is to really build our own physicians that are committed and stay within our hospitals in New Jersey.”
Southern Ocean Medical Center also participates in a Medical Academy program at Southern Regional High School. “This program is designated for sophomores through seniors who are interested in the health care field,” she said. “We give students the opportunity to come on site and volunteer at the hospital and work with our leaders to participate on projects.”
“These are all the reasons why we decided to partner with Southern Ocean Medical Center and help them to support the continued growth and wellbeing of our community,” said Wintrode. “That has always been at the heart of my family and is a sentiment that Michele and everyone at our local hospital resonates.”
To learn more about Causeway CARes, please visit https://causewaycares.com/ or email Joe.Stroffolino@CausewayCars.com.
About Causeway CARes
Causeway CARes’ mission is to make a direct and profound impact in and around Ocean County in the areas of education, food security and quality of life. Founded in 2004 and funded by The Wintrode Family Foundation, Inc., Causeway CARes strives to make the community a better place to live, grow and thrive. To learn more, visit https://causewaycares.com/.
