AVMF partners with VCA Animal Hospitals to provide $150,000 in COVID disaster relief grants for veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants
(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) August 18, 2020—The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF)—the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)—has partnered with VCA Animal Hospitals to develop a new COVID-19 Disaster Relief Grant program for veterinarians and to provide additional funds for a similar program developed earlier this year for veterinary technicians, veterinary nurses and assistants.
VCA Animal Hospitals and the AVMF will each donate $50,000 toward a new program, COVID-19 Disaster Relief Grants for Veterinarians, which will be used to provide $500 grants to meet the immediate needs of AVMA members facing hardship due to COVID-19.
To further extend assistance, VCA Animal Hospitals has committed to donate an additional $50,000 to provide additional grants to those who applied for but did not receive a $500 grant through AVMF’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief for Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Nurses and Assistants, launched this May and funded by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Zoetis and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). While the AVMF received $200,000 in original support for this program, the foundation was only able to provide funding to about a quarter of applicants before funds were depleted. This extra funding will allow the AVMF to fund some of the additional grant applications already received.
The AVMF and VCA Animal Hospitals are offering these funds as “challenge grants,” encouraging matching donations from the veterinary community and the public to help amplify the grants’ impact for those in the veterinary profession who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Donations are being accepted at AVMF.org/Donate.
The AVMF is now accepting applications from AVMA members for the new COVID-19 Disaster Relief Grants for Veterinarians. Visit AVMF.org/CovidVetGrants to learn more and submit your application.
While no new applications are being accepted for the existing COVID-19 Disaster Relief grant program for Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Nurses and Assistants, the AVMF and VCA Animal Hospitals hope to raise enough funds through their challenge grants to provide assistance to as many of those who have already applied as possible.
"The pandemic has created historic challenges for our veterinary family," said Dr. Todd Lavender, president of VCA Animal Hospitals and Pet Care Services. "But our family always takes care of its own. We are honored to work with the AVMF to provide financial assistance to doctors and technicians, as an investment in veterinary talent, the future of high-quality veterinary care and a better world for pets."
“Veterinarians have often been able to remain in business during the COVID-19 outbreak, but they and their teams have not been immune to the fallout and hardships associated with the virus,” said Dr. John Howe, chair of the AVMF Board of Directors. “We truly appreciate the generous support of VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as previous Disaster Relief Grant partners Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Zoetis and NAVTA, in stepping up to help our colleagues across the profession with some much-needed financial support during these unprecedented times.”
For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell) or msanfilippo
avma [dot] org.
Serving more than 100,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.
About the American Veterinary Medical Foundation
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association, one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Since 1963, the AVMF has helped veterinarians help animals by providing support for education, disaster relief, charitable veterinary care and research programs.
Visit AVMF.org to learn more.
About VCA Animal Hospitals
VCA Animal Hospitals operates more than 920 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Japan. The hospitals are staffed by more than 4,500 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians to give pets the very best in medical care, of which over 600 are board certified specialists who are experts in areas such as oncology, cardiology, emergency and critical care, and surgery for animals. VCA Animal Hospitals provides a full range of general practice services to keep pets well and specialized treatments when pets are ill. As part of the Mars, Inc. family of brands, VCA is committed to its purpose—A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS®.
For more information, please visit VCAhospitals.com or follow on Twitter @vcapethealth and Facebook (facebook.com/VCAAnimalHospitals/).