2024 MARY VICTORIA WAKEFIELD ANIMAL WELFARE MEMORIAL FUND
Care and concern for the general welfare of animals was close to the heart of the late Mary Victoria Wakefield. Mrs. Wakefield lived in the Abbotsford area from age ten when she moved to a small farm with her parents and brother in 1913. When she passed in 2003, Mrs. Wakefield’s wish to give back to the community and her love of animals was realized in the establishment of the Mary Victoria Wakefield Animal Welfare Fund.
This year’s grants will open October 7, 2024 with an online application. Applications will close October 31, 2024 at 12: 00 noon. Eligibility and application guidelines can be found below:
Important Dates
- Oct 7, 2024 – Application Opens
- Oct 31, 2024 – Application Closes at 12:00 noon
- Nov 30, 2024 – Notification of Decisions
- Oct 15, 2025 – Project Evaluations/Final Report due
Getting Started
Are you a registered charity or qualified donee?
Abbotsford Community Foundation grants are intended to support programs, projects and initiatives of organizations that qualify as a charitable organization under Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines or other qualified donee as identified by the Income Tax Act, Sec 149.1.(1).
What does your program, project or initiative benefit?
Mary Wakefield Animal Welfare grants support programs, projects and initiatives that provide a direct benefit to the citizens of Abbotsford Community Foundation’s geographic area of interest, specifically within Abbotsford. In this case, any registered charity, preferably based in Abbotsford, but can be located in other parts of the Fraser Valley, dedicated to the welfare of animals and their habitat, can submit up to 1 eligible project.
What costs are eligible?
- Veterinary equipment
- Salaries for program staff and/or volunteer honorariums
- Animal housing and/or shelter equipment
- Sanitation (including products and/or services)
- Subsidized veterinary services
- Foster placement and subsidize adoption programs
- Animal food costs
- Insurance costs specific to local animal shelter, care, or housing
2023 MARY VICTORIA WAKEFIELD ANIMAL WELFARE MEMORIAL FUND
Congratulations to the five recipients of the 2023 Mary Victoria Wakefield Animal Welfare Grants, each receiving $1,000 for their projects. You can read about their project below.
- Abbotsford Police Foundation: Financial Care Package for Retired Police Service Dogs. Provides cover of fees associated to both food and annual vet bills for retired police dogs that have served and retired from the Abbotsford Police Department.
- Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center Society: Enhancing Survival Through Specialized Foods. As a certified wildlife rehabilitator, Elizabeth has learned (over 37 years of experience) that better specialized foods for baby birds and small animals can significantly enhance recovery so they can be released back into the wild. However, these formulas are very expensive.
- Paws for Hope Animal Foundation: Better Together Abbotsford. This program supports 13 Abbotsford families with 19 pets to access ongoing preventative and urgent vet care at South Fraser Animal Hospital. They are also linked to services like pet friendly housing, end of life support and licensing to help pet families stay together.
- SAINTS Rescue: Support Veterinary Costs. Through out the year we visit clinics 3-4 times a week, with our animals whether they are senior, are palliative or special needs. We have over 100 animals either on site or in foster care which require out support. Vet care is one of out highest costs, followed by payroll as we have staff 24/7.
- Zajac Ranch Society: Zajac Ranch for Children Miniature Goat Shelter. For this project, we plan to build goat shelters and install fencing the seamlessly integrated into the ranch’s petting zoo. These durable shelters will not only ensure the safety of the animals, but will also become focal points for nurturing profound connections between children and animals.
In 2022, seven organizations received a Mary Victoria Wakefield Animal Welfare grant. Click here to read about them.