Friends of Miami Animals (FoMA) Announces Successful First 'Be A Friend' Fundraiser
MIAMI, Jan. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends of Miami Animals (FoMA) is delighted with the support it received at its inaugural "Be A Friend" fundraiser, which took place January 15 at the residence of Brigitt Rok-Potamkin and Alan Potamkin at the Surf Club Four Seasons in Surfside and raised nearly $200,000 in donations.
Andi Potamkin, a board member of Potamkin Philanthropies, announced after the event that Potamkin Philanthropies will make a donation to bring total donations to $500,000, the amount needed to operate a new mobile veterinarian clinic for a full year. Miami-Dade County is working with FoMA to fund the remainder of an initial three-year test project .
About 180 of the organization's friends gathered to show support for FoMA and its mission to save and improve the lives of pets in Miami-Dade County. Guests spent the evening learning more about the issues faced by local stray and rescue animals and the solutions FoMA provides. Dignitaries in attendance included Mayor Carlos A. Giménez of Miami-Dade, Mayor Oliver Gilbert of Miami Gardens, State Senator René García, and Commissioners Danielle Levine Cava, Sally Heyman, and Jean Monestime of Miami-Dade County.
FoMA's $225,000, 50-foot mobile veterinarian clinic, which was acquired by Brigitt Rok-Potamkin and will be donated for the project, was on display in front of the Surf Club Four Seasons. The clinic will bring basic veterinarian services and vouchers for free spay/neuter services to pets of low-income qualified pet owners who are unable to provide adequate care in economically challenged areas of Miami-Dade County.
"This mobile veterinarian clinic will make an enormous impact on the health and wellness of pets in our county. It's just one of our many programs to provide care to animals in need," said Brigitt Rok-Potamkin, a founding member of FoMA and the hostess of the evening.
Yolanda Berkowitz, President of FoMA, said, "We're a young foundation, but we've already made such important progress towards controlling pet overpopulation crisis in Miami-Dade County. This clinic augments our existing support of at-risk pets exponentially."
Andi Potamkin said: "We were thrilled to encourage these donations by ensuring that the fundraiser would cover a full year of operation for the mobile veterinarian clinic. We hope that this fundraiser is the first of many for this growing foundation."
About FoMA
Since 2016, Friends of Miami Animals Foundation (FoMA) has been a leader in animal welfare issues committed to helping homeless pets, community pets and the people who love them. The foundation helps build effective programs, establishing meaningful collaborations and engaging leaders and the community to save and improve the lives of homeless pets. Its work includes spay and neuter programs, shelter and rescue assistance, and support for animal rescue.
Watch this video to learn more about FoMA's work and donate to the cause at fomapets.org
Contact
PRCG | Haggerty LLC
212-683-8100
Lucy O'Brien: [email protected]
SOURCE Friends of Miami Animals
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