The 2012 ARF grants went to The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center; The Middleburg Humane Foundation; The Fauquier SPCA; Cause Fur Paws; The Equine Rescue League; The Gingersnap Girls; Golden Dreams; Save the Tails, Inc; The Virginia German Shepherd Rescue; WAAAG and Senior Pets,501(c)(3) pending.

ARF’s 2012 Animal Night, sponsored by David Roux, Ron Bradley, Howard Wilkins, Manley Johnson and Ken Rietz, raised the largest percentage of funds for distribution with ARF’s annual Estate Sale and Dog Fest/Family Barbeque benefits making important contributions to the 2012 Grant Fund.

Established in 2011 by a group of animal loving individuals with years of fund-raising experience, ARF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that raises money for groups that serve animals in need.  

Every member of the ARF organization is a volunteer.  There is no paid staff and no costly office space with attendant overhead and equipment costs to eat into funds raised.

All proceeds from ARF events are distributed in the year they are raised.

ARF’s board of directors includes Patricia E. Bschorr, Colleen M. Hahn, Mary W. Johnson, Danielle Kazmier, Ursula Landsrath, Manisha Saraf Morris, Jennifer Richards and Rhonda Whilkins.

Read the story in the Middleburg Eccentric, January 31, 2013 edition.

Click Picture to See More Dog Fest Photos

The event kicked off with a dog walk along trails cut through the 150 acre farm. Walkers and dogs enjoyed the magnificent views and companionship as they leisurely strolled the grounds. Read the full story in the Middleburg Eccentric, May 24, 2012 edition.

Events Chair, Vice-President Ursula Landsrath added, “we are so very grateful for the many generous, caring people who contributed to our organization. ARF held three events in 2011: a Ladies Garden Party in May, a Stag Dinner and an Estate Sale in November. Attendance at each event was more than we had dared hope.”

Virginia-based organizations were asked to submit Grant Applications for specific programs. Recipients of Grants were:

• The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center for the purchase of food and medical supplies;
• The Equine Rescue League Foundation for vet and medical expenses;
• Reesie’s “Project Outreach” for food, medical care and boarding fees;
• The Fauquier SPCA, Inc. for an Oxygen Concentrator;
• Cause Fur Paws to sterilize and vaccinate feral cats;
• The Middleburg Humane Foundation for pharmaceuticals and vaccines;
• The Gingersnap Girls for feed and vet;
• The Virginia German Shepherd Rescue for medical care and short-term boarding;
• The Equine Rescue League Foundation for Vet and medical expenses;
• Mountain View Humane-Spay/Neuter for spay and neuter services;
• People for Pets Foundation for repairs and update of storm-damaged buildings;
• Friends of Homeless Animals for a security and fencing system;
• The Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue for medicine and special needs;
• The Cat Adoption Rescue for veterinary care.

“The fact that we are all volunteers is what makes this work so well,” said Ursula. “People know that their donations are not spent on wages and overhead.”

Jennifer Richards added, “ARF is a group of animal-loving volunteers who have come together to do fundraising to help support local animal shelters and welfare organizations who must fundraise in addition to caring for animals in need. Our objective is to both help these organizations financially and to save them the time and human resources expended in fundraising.”