Misu, loving companion to Karine Ar and Ryan Kassel, lived for almost 15 years, having beaten cancer years ago. Misu was affectionate to and protective of his family. He had charm and a big personality, and he will be missed. July 2023, Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum, Dean Surkin, and the Lighted-Collar Gang.
In memory of Nichole Gray’s Willie. After the death of her beloved dog King Arthur (see Remembrance 2019), Nichole Gray opened her heart and her home to Willie. Willie was a five-year old rescue, a dog who had been severely traumatized in her prior life. Nichole gave her a safe home, and worked closely with a trainer over many months to help Willie adjust to life in a safe and loving environment. Unfortunately, Willie only had three years more, dying in July 2023 at about eight years old. Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum, Dean Surkin, and the Lighted-Collar Gang.
This past year continued our emphasis on helping newly formed animal welfare groups establish themselves on a proper basis. As of the first week of December, we have awarded a $1000 First Steps Grant to twenty-nine animal welfare groups in 2022 who met our simple three criteria: (i) it is a new organization (3-years or less), (ii) its principals have training or experience in the services to be provided and in running an animal welfare group, and (iii) it has a formal, thoughtful action/business plan. In our analysis of applications, we have learned to be flexible about strict compliance and to focus primarily on whether the group recognizes the value of training, preparation and planning – both organizational and financial — to achieve long term sustainability in its community.
The core of our program is our action/business plan requirement, which also seems to be the biggest bugaboo for applicants. We awarded First Steps grants to roughly one-third of applicants, with the main reason for rejection being the absence of a meaningful action/business plan. Our challenge has been to show applicants that the requirement is for their benefit, not ours, and that a short narrative or a stilted form found online is of little value. As explained on our website, “a purposeful plan should work as a living guide for the managers and overseers of an organization that can be updated and revised as circumstances warrant while keeping a focus on the mission of the organization…[W]e want to hear your voice in the plan.”
The value of the action/business plan requirement is best described by our grantees themselves. The excerpt below is from the application for one of our follow-up Forward Steps grants awarded to a prior First Steps grant recipients:
“Time and time again, I have returned to our business plan when applying for grants to use the graphics, narrative and market information to write a compelling proposal. I’m so appreciative that your First Steps Grant program required a business plan. The upfront investment of our time to write a business plan has repaid itself over and over in our first 18 months of operations and I highly recommend that all organizations, especially non-profits, go through that process.” Shannon Blake, Wolly Kitten Club
Thank you, Shannon, and thanks to all of you for your interest in our efforts on behalf of new animal welfare groups. With appreciation from the Board,
With appreciation from the Board,
Michalina Bickford
Kathleen Bickford Berzock
Peter Bickford
Ollie, 03/01/2011 – 05/08/2023, beloved member of the Di Christina family. “We will miss the big presence of this spirited little vocal love. He survived 2 catpanions – Lilah and Charlie and many other pets. Leaves behind sad family of 6 [Audrey and George, and their children Derrick, Dana, Brandon, and Mark] who were so touched by his warmth, literal and figurative, as he was a Cornish Rex. He was most bonded with Dana.” Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin, May 2023.
Ken and JoAnn De Koven rescued Princess Arwen 15 years ago. She was a sweet cat who rescued them as much as they rescued her, and she lived a long and happy life in a warm family with Ken and JoAnn and Diva and Layla, and other animals over the years. Ken wrote, “Please light a candle to help guide her on her journey as she joins our other family angels, Pookie, MacGyver, Kira, Frodo, Cole, Indiana, Gretel and Dakota to wait at the Bridge for us. Fly high and soar with the angels sweet Arwen!!” Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin, February 2023.
In remembrance of Patricia, lovingly cared for by Maria and Albert DiMeglio. “We rescued Patricia from a neglectful situation. Because of her neglect, Patricia had many health issues. She was very small and skinny for an 8 year old cat. We took her to the Amimal Medical Center and gave her all the medicines that were prescribed to her and she was a great patient. Patricia got better and started to play with her wand toys and I would share pizza and ice cream with her. Patricia was sweet, quiet, feisty, fierce, independent, loving, and fearless. She was only with us for 5 months but she has left the biggest hole in our hearts!”
Ginger, beloved companion of Anne and Steve Wagner. After their dog George passed away, they weren’t sure that they could open their hearts again. Then a friend asked them to adopt Ginger. Ginger had a long and happy life, living with her fellow companion Mable (who passed away last year). Ginger was known as the “friendliest dog in the neighborhood,” and she died peacefully at home. Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin.
In memory of Zevon, loving companion to Linda Rose of Santa Rosa California. “Zevon was a wonderful and kind soul. He loved unconditionally. Everyone that met him noticed his gentle kindness and his acceptance of them just the way they were. He was my best friend and companion for 7 years. His death was sudden and unexpected which makes it extremely difficult for those he left behind. He will always be missed and loved by everyone who knew him.” Remembrance donations by Linda Rose and Peter and Mickey Bickford. April 2022.
Our grant programs have evolved over the years to focus primarily on new organizations unable to obtain funding from mainstream funding sources. This year we completed the transition to be totally focused on helping new organizations get established on a proper basis to achieve long-term sustainability. Our $1000 First Steps grant criteria have been simplified to three basic requirements: you must be a new organization (3-years or less), have training in the business of running an animal welfare group as well as in appropriate animal care issues, and have a formal, thoughtful business plan.
This year we also implemented a new Forward Steps grant of up to $1500 to be awarded to prior First Steps grant recipients that have demonstrated the value and efficacy of its business plan, and success in striving for a sustainable model. First Steps grantees that received their grants more than 12-months ago receive an email invitation in due course to apply for a follow-up Forward Steps grant by providing a narrative on the value of proper training and planning and sharing their thoughts on their start-up experiences. Most rewarding are comments recognizing the value of planning that our grant programs emphasize. As one of our Forward Steps grantees stated in its application: “Producing the business plan forced us to define some short-term goals and bench marks to use in measuring our progress.” . . . “The business plan also proved useful in opening doors to grant applications.” And another grantee stated: “We will be eternally grateful to the Binky Foundation for the early support we received when launching our organization.”
Comments like these and others confirm the value of our programs and provide gratifying support for the criteria we have developed. Thank you for your interest in our efforts on behalf of new animal welfare groups.
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We continue to update our website (https://binkyfoundation.org/) and our pet remembrance page remains as popular as ever. We would love to hear from you with your comments about our website or on any other aspect of our mission. Many thanks for your continued interest in our efforts.
With appreciation from the Board,
Michalina Bickford
Kathleen Bickford Berzock
Peter Bickford
Boris, beloved companion to Joanna and Adrian Totlici, died after a long illness. Boris was a rescue, adopted from Bidawee. Joanna says “he was fearless and so strong-willed when out and about (he would eat pit bulls for breakfast) but at home, he was a Velcro pup and always there to comfort us (especially me).” A few years ago, Boris’s photo was featured in ads for Ever More, a dog food company. Remembrance by Jacqueline Birnbaum, Dean Surkin, and the Lighted-Collar Gang. March 2022.