Tails to Teach Gets $39,000 Grant from Rhode Island Foundation

An East Greenwich nonprofit group that offers humane education to elementary schools is among the organizations that will share in nearly $440,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation through its Program for Animal Welfare.

Tails to Teach in East Greenwich received $39,000 to expand its humane education programs to more schools as well as to recruit and train more classroom volunteers. Over the years, the program has given more than 2,000 students hands-on time with former shelter dogs.

The grant was among nearly $440,000 that the Foundation awarded to 27 animal welfare programs across the state including a Warwick shelter that provides low-cost vet care for needy pet owners statewide to Mystic Aquarium’s work rescuing injured seals.

“The generous support of our donors and the dedication of our grantees is expanding humane education, raising awareness and increasing the quality of animal care in Rhode Island,” said Adrian Boney, the grants program officer who oversees PAW at the Foundation. “New approaches to animal welfare and humane education are emerging and our animal welfare grant program is supporting a wide variety of programs from a diverse array of organizations and community efforts across the state.”

PAW funds organizations that promote and provide humane treatment of animals or work more generally on the welfare of animals. Grants are for projects or programs that have a positive impact statewide or in individual communities with regard to animal care, education about the humane treatment of animals and animal welfare in general.

“Animal welfare grants actually reach much further than is obvious. For instance, a grant to help emergency pet sheltering saves human lives because people will heed evacuation warnings if they have somewhere to take their pets, where they would not if they had to leave their pets in harm’s way,” said Dr. Scott Marshall, Rhode Island State Veterinarian.

PAW is funded with assistance from the Virginia B. Butler Fund, Abbie A. Brougham Memorial Fund, John B. and Ruth L. Kilton Fund, Helen Walker Raleigh Animal Fund, Dawn, Gregg and Leland Weingeroff Animal Fund, Mary Lou Crandall Fund, Vinny Animal Welfare Fund, Vernon and Mary Pierce Fund, Ginger, Sheba and Susie Carr Fund and Jeanne Marie Mehmed Fund.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2013, the Foundation made grants of more than $31 million to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: Representatives of animal welfare organizations applaud the news that they will share in nearly $440,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation.