Fundraising
Daily operation of the Animal Shelter, currently employing 10 full-time workers, is costly. Services rendered to the public, e.g., boarding facilities for dogs and cats and the transportation of unwanted animals to the Shelter, generate some income but not sufficient to cover basic expenses such as food, medication and sterilization, payroll, maintenance costs, pick-up trucks and the animal ambulance. The Board of the Society is therefore confronted annually with a financial deficit of around Nafl. 250,000. - (US$ 138,888). The Local Government contributes with a yearly subsidy of Nafl 45,000. - (US$ 25,000) and the remainder is financed by sponsors, donations and various fundraising activities. The contribution of sponsors and donors covers 76% of the deficit and is of vital importance for the continued existence of the Animal Shelter! See ‘Sponsorship and Donations’.
Board and volunteers organize several traditional fundraising events each year, in particular in October, the month dedicated all over the world to the animals.
Traditional Fundraising Events
1989 was a crucial year for the Society, setting a precedent by organizing several fundraising events that have been successfully repeated each year.
Bake sale
On the Saturday before Mothers’ Day the traditional Bake sale takes place. In 2008 this event was organized for the 20th consecutive year. Animal lovers, hotels and restaurants contribute with cakes and other delicacies to sell for Mothers day with the purpose of fundraising for the Animal Shelter.
MAY 10 2008 CELEBRATION OF THE 20TH ANNUAL BAKE SALE
The traditional fundraising Bake Sale, organized on Saturday May 10th, was a tremendous success. For the 20th consecutive year animal lovers contributed with cakes and other delicacies to sell them for Mothers day, with the purpose of fundraising for the Animal Shelter. The event was held in restaurant Peppers at the historic location of Landhuis Granbeeuw where the antique ambiance certainly helped to draw in the crowds. This event serves not just as a fundraising activity, but also as an opportunity for old friends and sympathizers of the ‘Stichting Dierenbescherming’ to gather for a happy reunion and spend some time together. Total funds raised from this event were over Naf 6,000 and will go direct to the Animal Shelter.
Thanks to all who gave their support and made the Bake Sale a successful event!
Volunteers raise funds by selling cakes and cookies in the antique ambiance of ‘Restaurant Peppers’.
Cakes and cookies donated by animal lovers.
These youngsters sold tickets for the raffle of a beautiful cake. The profit was f 250,-
Preparing the stand for the sale of T-shirts and mothers day gifts.
Coffee Recital
Like the Bake Sale, this event which has been organized since 1989, serves not only as a fundraising activity, but also as an opportunity for old friends and sympathizers of the ‘Stichting Dierenbescherming’ to gather for a happy reunion and spend some time together. The Coffee Recital
functions as an official opening of the October month and was last held on September 30 2007 at the CCC (Cultural Center Curaçao) at Emmastad. Performances by Grupo Serenada, and the “Muzikantios”; students from the Music academy of CCC. turned out to be hugely popular! The net proceeds of last year’s concert was Nafl 3.465.
These photos give an idea of the atmosphere during the concert.
Pet food collection ‘Yuda nos Asiel’ (Help our Animal Shelter)
Every year on Animals’ Day, children aged between 4 and 12 and from 126 local schools, bring pet food to school to donate to the Shelter animals. About 25 volunteers collect the food and deliver it to the Shelter. The result is an enormous stock of cans and bags of pet food, enough to feed the animals for approximately eight months.
In September each year, the Society supplies the schools with educational material on pet care to be used on Animals Day. In 2007 The younger children received coloring sheets and teachers of the older children received posters promoting sterilization of pet animals and information on this topic to share with their students.October 4th 2007: World Animals’ Day: Pet food collection and sterilization promotion…
Money collection
Throughout the entire month of October money is collected island-wide to support the Shelter.
Students, in particular from the Dr. Albert Schweitzerschool and the Marnixschool, dedicate their free time to raise funds out of their love for animals, holding collection boxes at the entrance to supermarkets, the post office and other public places. Collection boxes are also placed in restaurants, banks and shops.
Adult volunteers approach local businesses and offices with a donation list. In October 2007 these combined efforts created a total of around Nafl 55.000.
Sale for the animals
During the month of October Dierenbescherming is usually invited by various organizations to set up a stand where books, toys, t-shirts and other articles can be sold to raise funds for the animals.
This stand is also present during fundraising activities of the Dierenbescherming such as the Bake Sale in May and the Coffee Recital in October.
