2013 has been another fulfilling year for The Binky Foundation! Even with its ups and downs – mostly ups – we continue to be amazed by the number of compassionate, dedicated people across the country who are working to protect, rescue and care for domestic and wild animals and their habitats.
We all receive seemingly endless mail solicitations from all kinds of groups. Our responses to these solicitations are often based less on what we really know about the organization than on the emotional and marketing value of the solicitation. Seldom do we know the answers to questions like: Are they well run? Are they successfully and efficiently accomplishing their goals? Are they spending a disproportionate amount of their support to solicit contributions than on actually fulfilling their mission? Are we being taken in by guilt inducing gifts or photos rather than on the value provided by the organization?
Last year we reported that we were emphasizing our smaller First Steps Grants ($2500 and under) so that we could do more good in more communities with our limited resources. This year we have continued this emphasis and have refined our criteria so that we can focus on those smaller organizations that are seeking to achieve sustainability for the long haul.
Everyone affiliated with The Binky Foundation was shocked and devastated upon learning of the sudden and untimely death of our wonderful friend and supporter, Barbara Rosenthal, while in Chicago pursuing her world-wide love of opera. Barbara was a caring friend and supporter of all animals, particularly her own wonderful cat Chaplin, who tragically succumbed to cancer shortly after Barbara’s death and her god dog, Benny, and she was a 20-year veteran wildlife docent for the Central Park Zoo. Barbara’s strong sense of indignity for those who abused or ignored the plight of all animals will be missed terribly by all of us who knew and relied upon her unwavering commitment.
When Mickey & Peter were saying their final farewell to Binky, a cat living at the vet’s office pushed his way into the room. Soon after they adopted that cat, Benny (or Bennie to many). Judging from his charm, sweetness and courage, they suspect that Binky’s spirit passed to Benny that day in the vets office, which made it all the harder for them when Benny lost his two-year battle with cancer just before Christmas.
Mickey & Peter are happy that they could provide Benny the care that he needed during his all too brief life. However, they also know that many people are struggling to provide basic, necessary needs – food and medical care – for their pets. While The Binky Foundation does not have the resources to provide assistance for direct care of individual animals, it will continue to look to organizations seeking to establish sustainable programs to assist those pets and their owners struggling to provide such basic needs. (See our grant programs).
The most important lesson learned by us this past year is that there are an amazing number of dedicated grass-roots organizations working diligently and passionately against tremendous odds to provide food, shelter, medical and other aid for domestic animals in need, and for accessible, sustainable habitat for their wild brethren; and in the process educating others about the importance of their mission. The second lesson we have learned is that by emphasizing our smaller First Steps Grants ($2500 and under) and Step Up Student Grants ($500 and under) we are able to do more good in more communities with our limited resources.
In April 2010 Mickey and Peter said farewell to their wonderful cat Button. For 9 of her 17 years, Button was Binky’s friend, companion and playmate. We miss them both, but are sure they are romping together again!