Lisa Horn
Executive Director
On behalf of the West Sound Wildlife Shelter, we welcome you to our 17th Annual Call to the Wild Virtual Gala Auction celebration – the Shelter's most important fundraiser event of the year. The funds raised tonight will save the lives of wildlife by funding our wildlife rehabilitation center and education programs.
What a challenging year this has been for donors and local businesses. As a small nonprofit, we overcame serious obstacles in 2020. It was a reminder of just how vital our community is to the well-being of our wildlife patients and how the generosity of donors has helped sustain us through these difficult times. The COVID-19 crisis of 2020 and now 2021 has stretched the Shelter to its financial limits.
The Shelter is the only wildlife rehabilitation and education center serving the entire western Puget Sound region. When wildlife on the Kitsap Peninsula is injured or orphaned, they need medical attention, and there is only one local facility they can go to, and that's West Sound Wildlife Shelter.
The West Sound Wildlife Shelter provides care to over 1,600 patients a year. We employ six local individuals who provide training and learning opportunities for numerous interns and volunteers. The Shelter is not only an active wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facility but also an education and outreach cornerstone for the community. Our education program alone has reached 7,800 individuals in four counties last year. After serving the local community for 28 years, demand for our services has grown dramatically.
The Shelter's activities, including this event, would not be possible without the generosity of you and our community. We depend almost entirely upon donations from individuals and fundraisers like this to carry on our daily operations. The next time you see a raptor soaring above you, know that you are helping to save these majestic animals and countless others that can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild. Thanks for your caring and generous support.
Again, we thank you for attending our virtual auction and hope you enjoy the evening!
Lisa Horn
Executive Director