January 25, 2024
Categories: Announcements, Grants

The remarkable efforts of five individuals in the animal well-being (welfare) space were each recognized with a Maddie Holiday Hero Award in December. Five organizations each received a $5,000 grant from Maddie’s Fund in honor of these individuals. Maddie’s Fund®, is a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals.   

“We believe these Maddie Holiday Heroes represent the key essence of community leadership and innovation,” said Mary Ippoliti-Smith. “These amazing people are committed to collective action and building power among communities. They are often working outside the traditional shelter walls to create solutions to improve the quality of life for people and their pets.”   

The honorees are: 

  •  Awanookwe Kingbird-Bratvold, founder and Executive Director of Awesiinyag of Loved, an organization that promotes Anishinaabe culture of animals and provides supportive services and resources to assist animals and their people in the Red Lake Nation of Minnesota. 
  • Dianne Prado, Founder and Executive Director of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA) which provides free technical assistance, legal representation, education, training, and policy advocacy to keep people and their companion animals housed. It was founded on fundamental principle that every person deserves a sustainable and inclusive place to call home. 
  • Hakeem Ruiz, President and co-founder of the Block Gives Back which promotes community involvement and engagement throughout Philadelphia by identifying issues within the community and devising a plan to recruit local volunteers, businesses, organizations and local leaders to help work towards a solution.  
  • Donnell Randolph, Community Program Coordinator at Oakland Animal Services. Randolph coordinates and hosts much-needed community clinics which provides medical examines, vaccines, food, leashes and more for the well-loved pets in the community.  
  • Dr. Kwane Stewart, Veterinarian and Founder of Project Street Vet, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit public charity that provides free veterinary care, treatment, and support to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing vulnerability. Its motto is: No judgment. Just help. Dr. Stewart recently received the prestigious CNN Hero of the Year Award.