 GreatNonprofits has named Phinney's a Top-Rated Nonprofit two years in a row! We’re purroud to announce that Phinney’s has been named a Top-Rated Nonprofit for 2022!
Being a great nonprofit is something Phinney’s has prided itself on since we began our mission more than 25 years ago, and we’re so humbled by the outpouring of heartfelt community support we continue to receive. The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on a rating and number of reviews received from volunteers, donors, and aid recipients. “Phinney’s is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, which recognized Phinney's with this distinguished award for the second consecutive year in a row. With growing inflation, we anticipate that many more people and their pets may need our help in the coming months, and we're committed to meeting any increased demand for our services. And with our community endorsers calling our support for people and pets alike a win-win, we're confident we can rise to the challenge and meet those needs. Thank you again to everyone for showing your tremendous support of our cause, we couldn't do what we do without your continued support.
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 Phinney's new president, Morgan Ritz, loves helping pets and people. Phinney’s is pleased to announce the appointment of its new President, Morgan Ritz. A lifelong animal devotee, Morgan always wanted to do what she could to bring relief to the millions of animals out there in need of help. So she started volunteering with The Cat Connection in 2010, was involved in every aspect of the nonprofit, and served as its president from 2016 to 2021. Also driven to helping people, Morgan built a career in the mental health field, most recently working as residential manager of a group home. Now she lives in Watertown with her clowder of failed foster cats and her boyfriend, where she works as a dog walker and cat sitter. Morgan believes that all animals (with the possible exception of house centipedes, LOL) deserve a chance to have a good life. And she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Phinney’s to help pets and their people stay together happily ever after. “I am incredibly excited to have this opportunity to help Phinney’s. I have long been a fan of the organization’s mission and impressed by the difficult and important work done by its volunteers and superhero President Daniela Caride!” says Morgan. “I am so looking forward to working with this amazing team to help people and their pets stay happily together.” "Morgan is super enthusiastic about Phinney’s mission, and our Board is confident she will excel in every way, given her skills, drive and dedication," says Daniela, who is ecstatic about Morgan's arrival. She has been working closely with Morgan during the past two months, so the Board and Morgan could be sure everyone was happy with the new distribution of roles. After 10 years as President and 15 as a volunteer, Daniela has decided to step down from this leadership role and continue her work with Phinney’s as an Advisor to the Board of Directors. And she is looking forward to this new chapter in her life, in which she can contribute to Phinney's in new ways. “Words cannot express our Board’s gratitude for all Daniela has done for the organization,” says Director Laura Scott, Phinney's Communications Chair. "We are thrilled that Daniela will continue on as Board Advisor, so that Morgan can learn the ins and outs of how Phinney’s operates, and we can continue to meet our day-to-day and strategic goals.” “Being President of Phinney’s during this past decade taught me so much about the needs of the community, and the need to listen, be kind and generous to one another,” says Daniela. “It has also given me so much joy by allowing me to make friends with wonderful people and shape such an amazing organization. Thank you for these amazing experiences. I’m so excited about this future journey!” As we celebrate our 25th anniversary and with Morgan’s leadership, we look forward to continuing our mission of helping people and their beloved pets stay together. Please join us in thanking Daniela for her selfless contributions and in welcoming Morgan as Phinney’s new President!  This is Whispers! Phinney's helped his mom in November, by paying for tests and medications at the vet. Now Whispers is feeling much better and on his way to treatment. Hi everyone, One thing I learned this year is that Phinney's isn’t just here for low-income people and their pets. We’ve helped one another as friends while volunteering — cheering one another on, listening or offering a shoulder, and offering a safe space to talk when we needed that most. The pandemic has been tough for so many, affecting many people’s health, their families, and their ability to support themselves. Some of Phinney’s volunteers and donors understandably have had to step away. But those who have left are never too far. A love for animals unites us. Indeed, despite the tough reality the times have brought, our mission continues. It is seared in our hearts and connects us no matter what we are doing or where we are. I certainly hope we can all breathe more easily in 2022. But regardless of what the future holds, we'll keep fighting. There is nothing that makes us happier than being part of something that means life, hope and happiness to the people and pets we help. Every tear of joy we witness when a pet is saved and goes back home to a hearty hug is a miracle we can call our own — all thanks to this amazing group of people we call Phinney's. Hard times come and go. Our passion for helping pets and the people who love them does not fade. Our holiday wish is for everyone to feel our warm embrace, no matter where they are. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! - Daniela Caride, Phinney's President   These are some of the many text messages we got this year from grateful pet owners who received Phinney's help. It is only thanks to your donations that Phinney's was able to keep so many pets and people together during hardship and uncertainty. For the past 25 years, Phinney's has brought hope and happiness to countless pet owners in need and saved the lives of thousands of pets who would have been otherwise euthanized. Your donations perform miracles every day to those in need. During our last fiscal year, we were able to pay $68,341 toward veterinary visits for ill pets, and additional $24,426 for annual vet checks, tests and medication that keep beloved pets healthy and happy. We also spent $16,578 on pet supplies for dozens of families in need. Phinney's efforts are embodied in Phinney's Angels Tree, a plump blue spruce decorated at the grounds of the Pierce Park (you can visit it any day until the end of January at 17 Weston Rd, Lincoln MA). This tree is adorned with hand painted watercolor ornaments of some of Phinney's neediest pets. They are dangling from the branches carrying messages of joy and encouragement, chosen by the donors who purchased them to support Phinney's. (You can buy them too, at phinneys.org, if you'd like!) We are cheered by the paintings of these pets, whom we love as our own, and the beautiful messages of Phinney's supporters. And we are eager to continue this good work. Please consider donating today at phinneys.org or mailing a check to Phinney’s Friends P.O. Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773 Thank you! - Daniela Caride, Phinney's President  Help change the lives of pets like...
Buddy, a gorgeous black cat who raises the spirits of his wheelchair-bound dad Valley, a kitty who entertains her mom, who copes with cerebral palsy Oliver, a handsome kitty with GI problems permanently fostered with Phinney's Sarge, a Pittie lovebug who guides his legally-blind mom Miss Chevious, a feisty calico who helps her mom with anxiety  Hi everyone,
You may remember Oliver, a ginger kitty and Elizabeth’s best friend. Elizabeth, a Phinney's volunteer who took Oliver in a couple of years ago when Phinney's needed to find him a loving home, bonded with him immediately. Looking at this pair's selfie, and thinking of the 15 years I've been volunteering for Phinney's, I couldn't help but tear up. I remembered so many of the smiling and eager faces, and the words of hundreds of people I've met who wanted to volunteer, donate, foster (like Elizabeth) — ultimately help in some way. They selflessly devoted their time to people and pets they don't know. They generously relinquished part of their savings to faceless people and animals in need. At times like these, in which we've recently witnessed and felt sadness, and maybe even anger at times, I look at my surroundings and marvel. Every day, I have the honor of interacting with wonderful, generous, kind people who just want to make this world better. And we all work together to help more wonderful people, who also work so hard to keep the pets they love. About dear Oliver, due to Elizabeth's health, she made the impossibly painful decision to re-home him. She thought it wouldn't be fair to him to be home alone for long periods, enjoying the care of her kind neighbors for days at a time. Oliver is now living with his new foster mom, helping her through her online yoga workouts, happy and safe. Like Elizabeth, she doesn’t need to worry about Oliver’s treatments and prescription food to keep his gastroenteritis and bouts of pancreatitis at bay. Phinney’s covers those costs through Friends of Tui Fund for Older Cats. Elizabeth says she misses Oliver terribly, but said "sometimes you just need to think of how much better off the pet you love will be" even if it means being with another volunteer. Elizabeth also told us that she is "so grateful to Phinney's for all the help" we gave her and all her pets over the years. This partnership has allowed her to enjoy the company of pets, but also has given Phinney's an opportunity to place pets who suddenly become homeless in the hands of one of the best people in the world. Well, that's how I feel about Elizabeth and Oliver's new mom. I am beyond grateful for their loving care, and for all the selflessness and kindess I've witnessed through Phinney's. Really, there are no other words: THANK YOU! I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving this Thursday, and again, thank you for being such an inspiration. Daniela Caride - Phinney's President   $21,800 and counting! That’s how much Phinney's Ride has raised so far to support pet parents living with HIV and AIDS care for their pets. And, we’re not done yet. Donate today to support one of our dedicated riders or become a Couch Potato Hero by donating not to ride. :)  A big thank you to Shannon Murphy for capturing many of the Team’s amazing moments in photographs, and our Vice President Judy Bell for organizing the Ride.
Take a peek at the Ride's slideshow here!  Unwavering passion and commitment from volunteers and donors. That’s what kept Phinney’s open and active during this most unusual fiscal year, from July 1st 2020 to June 30, 2021. Thanks to your generous gifts and your stamina, we were able to help pet owners in need with $68,341 on veterinary visits for their ill pets, and $24,426 on annual vet checks, tests and medications to keep beloved pets healthy. We also shipped $16,578 worth of pet supplies for dozens of low-income people in need. If you'd like to read some of the stories of the pets we helped and take a closer look at how we used the funds you donated to this great cause, check our 2020-2021 Annual Report here that's just come out. Enjoy the read! We love you, Marcia! And it's worth noting that our Annual Report carries a big THANK YOU to Pooch Palace of Watertown, which produced its last Phinney's fundraising Calendar last year before passing the baton onto a new owner.
The doggie daycare raised and donated almost $700,000 to Phinney's since 1996. We are eternally grateful for such a gift of love from Pooch Palace staff and especially Marcia Sassoon, the heart and mind behind this wonderful effort that saved countless pets throughout two decades. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marcia!  Daniela Caride with Graffiti - a former Phinney's cat who needed a home after his mom could no longer keep him. Hello, Phinney's Supporter.
Hope you are well and safe. The COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage the lives of so many is, of course, impacting Phinney’s as well. The requests for help have skyrocketed. And while the phone doesn't stop ringing, a lot of our volunteers and donors have been struggling and less able to contribute. Many have lost or changed jobs, closed their businesses, or are dealing with other issues related to long-haul symptoms and burnout. As a result, we understand why many have had to stop volunteering or donating. The ones who still stand are moved by sheer stubbornness and love of the cause. It is very inspiring to see how brave people have been. Brave to continue on, and even brave enough to admit they now are the ones in need of help. So, here we are, faced with a wider group of pet lovers in dire straits -- many of them our closest friends -- while Phinney's is still not able to hold the events we so love, out of concern over the safety of our supporters. It may feel like 2022 is far away. But it's not. As we plan our budget, we know we will need to brace ourselves for a difficult year. So, if you are in a position to help, please donate now and help safeguard Phinney's power to save lives and create joy and relief to both people and their pets. We even have a specific fund to help people affected by the pandemic. Click here if you'd like to check it out. If you can't donate, no problem. There are so many ways of making a difference. You can talk about Phinney's with your friends and family, and post about us on your social media pages. Our website, phinneys.org, is full of fresh information on how we make a difference, and how to be involved. We want to help as many pet owners now more than ever, as this worldwide crisis has increased the burdens of people who were, not long ago, able to support their families. That’s why we need you. And only together we can go on. Teamwork is the answer. Living through these times, we learned that the best source of inspiration and strength comes from the resolve of one another. Thank you for caring! Daniela Caride Phinney’s President  Hi, everyone! The MetroWest Daily News has just published a wonderful article called "Phinney's Ride is back to help people with HIV, AIDS take care of their pets." It's about Phinney's efforts to help pet owners living with HIV and AIDS. Phinney's has helped this special group of loving pet owners since its inception, in 1996. It's been 25 years! Click here to read the article. Enjoy! If you would like to take part in this tradition, please consider donating to the Couch Potato Fund. You don't have to ride to make a difference for people and pets in need. Just make a donation from the comfort of your home. If you donate $100 or more, you get a "Couch Potato Hero" Certificate, for being quite lazy but totally awesome.   “Tui was the cat of my life,” said Ken Levine, longtime Phinney’s Rider and avid cyclist, and also Phinney’s foster dad who recently established a Phinney's fund to honor the memory of his beloved feline. To know Tui was a treat for all he encountered, reminisces Ken. “Tui was the people’s cat. He was a gentle, loving and very talkative shade cat who made friends with all four- and two-legged creatures who ever lived and visited with him.” In talking to Ken about Tui, this sentiment became evident as he told the story of how he came to know his neighbors in Stow, Massachusetts, a place where Ken still cycles for Bike for the Woods in support of the Stow Conservation Trust. It turned out that Tui, who Ken adopted as a stray and aptly named after the chatty Tui bird native to New Zealand, had already befriended the neighbors. And one of those neighbors was an accomplished photographer who later ended up chronicling Tui’s zest for life through a series of photographs entitled “The Secret Life of Tui.” It was only after Tui got hurt while engaged in some outdoor shenanigans that Ken learned he had been splitting his time with the neighbors (and probably getting double meals! LOL). From that point on, Tui would meow for those neighbors to join him back home with Ken every chance he got! With a gentle, adventurous and compassionate spirit, Tui’s impact during his 22 years of life were very meaningful not just to Ken but to so many others. “Over the years, he lived with other cats, dogs, and people, and made friends with everyone. Even if he had never met you, he would insist you pat him in his very vocal way, and then jump in your lap at the first opportunity,” Ken reminisced. Those 22 years weren’t without Tui’s share of hardships, though. When he was 17, Tui suffered a stroke. Fortunately, he recovered. But what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten the care he needed? Many older cats like Tui need help to survive, and they, too, may live to be 22 if given the chance. “There’s an expression that cats have nine lives. And sometimes they need our help in getting those full nine lives,” Ken said. His decision to establish the Friends of Tui Fund for Older Cats was simple. When Tui passed, Ken held a Celebration of Life and close to two-dozen people attended. “Tui thrived on the love he gave and received, which helped him survive a few health issues into his 20s,” he said. “It was only fitting that we could set up this fund so that he could continue to give from beyond.” Thank you, Tui, for the love you gave while you were here. And thank you, Ken, for letting us share what a special boy Tui was. We have no doubt that Tui’s spirit of altruism will live on through the elderly cats this Fund supports. What’s next for Ken Newly retired and full of plans, Ken will bike 80 miles in support of Phinney’s Ride on Sept. 11 and 12 in Rhode Island as a member of Roger & Russ’ Team Ride. Ken has already raised 288% of his fundraising goal, and we are certain that Tui will be cheering Ken and his fellow riders on from The Rainbow Bridge. If you would like to support Ken’s ride, click here. To sign up to participate in the Ride visit phinneys.org/ride. And remember -- this year’s ride isn’t limited to cycling (a tractor ride, a boat ride, a hayride, etc. are fair game!) And, if you would like more information about setting up a fund in honor or memory of a loved one, send us a message or call us at 617-979-8705. Another Lasting Gift from Tui to Share Check out this amazing slideshow on YouTube that Ken produced to honor the memory of his beloved Tui (and be sure to check out the scenes from “The Secret LIfe of Tui” which chronicle his heartwarming relationship with the neighbors he so adored! How Friend of Tui Fund for Older Cats Helps In their golden years, pets can develop many common health issues. For kitties like Tui, some usual ailments include chronic kidney disease, heart disease, hyperthryoidism, dental disease, diabetes, and cancer. The prognosis depends on the progression of the disease and a pet’s overall health. But intervention and treatment goes a long way toward helping to extend an older pet’s life when they are able to maintain a good quality of life. That’s why Friends of Tui Fund for Older Cats is so important. It's here to make sure that senior cats get the medical treatment, prescription food and other care they need to live their best lives. |
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Phinney's is an all-volunteer registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets. U.S. federal tax ID 94-3475924. All content on this website is the property of Phinney's Friends, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
PO Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: 617-203-2053 Fax: 617-979-8705 |
