South Jersey Pagan Pride

Animal Welfare Association of NJ www.awanj.org

The Animal Welfare Association (AWA), is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization providing shelter for orphaned animals, low-cost spay and neuter services, pet assisted therapy and humane education for the community since 1948. For more than fifty years, AWA has been committed to the prevention and eradication of animal suffering. Each year, more than 9,500 animals receive care through AWA programs.

AWA provides care and shelter for orphaned animals with a capacity of 65 dogs and puppies, 150 cats and kittens, and 60 rabbits and small animals. The shelter accepts animals of any species for which appropriate care and housing can be provided, or as an emergency shelter until a more suitable placement can be found. Open seven days a week for adoptions, AWA is well known in the sheltering community for having a very successful adoption program. In addition to adopting animals from the shelter in Voorhees, AWA participates in PETsMART’s Luv-a-Pet Center adoption program, adopting pets from local PETsMART stores. Our off-site adoption team of volunteers participates in numerous community events, fairs and parades throughout the region. In a typical year, we participate in more than 60 community events, giving AWA animals exposure to thousands of people who otherwise may have never considered coming to the shelter.

Upon entering the shelter, animals receive physical exams, are screened for illness and vaccinated. They also undergo periodic behavioral assessment and if needed, participate in an in-house behavior monitoring and rehabilitation program. Environment enrichment is provided to all animals in the form of toys, regular walks or grooming and one on one time with a staff member or volunteer. Significant veterinary care and rehabilitation resources are afforded to animals assessed as sound in temperament who are suffering from physical damage or recovering from treatable illness. Our policy is to euthanize (put to sleep) only dangerous or potentially dangerous animals, animals that do not respond to medical intervention or have terminal illness.

South Jersey Pagan Pride participated in the 2008 Paws & Feet Walkathon and raised $405 for homeless pets!

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) www.alexslemonade.org

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) for Childhood Cancer is committed to finding a cure for all children with cancer. The foundation operates on the principle introduced by our founder Alexandra “Alex” Scott - “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation first began in 2000, when a then 4-year-old cancer patient named Alex voiced a simple wish - she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for all kids with cancer. The idea was put into action when Alex held her very first lemonade stand on her family’s front lawn in July of that same year. Alex continued to hold stands for the next 4 years, with the goal of raising 1 million dollars. In 2004, over a thousand stands went up around the country and Alex's goal was reached. Shortly following, on August 1, 2004 Alex ultimately lost her life to childhood cancer, but her legacy of hope continues to live on through volunteers young and old.

Since Alex held her first front yard lemonade stand, the foundation bearing her name, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, has raised over $25 million, with nearly half of the funds originating from front yard lemonade stands like Alex’s. The money raised has been utilized to fund over 100 cutting-edge research projects, create a travel program to assist families who need to travel for treatment, and develop resources to help everyone touched by childhood cancer.

Ronald McDonald House www.rmhc.org

A strong mind. A strong body. And a safe, supportive place to grow. These are things that every child needs - and deserves. Helping to provide these things is what we do.By creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is working to better the lives of children and their families around the world.

The three core programs of RMHC - the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile - are focused on helping families in need. Our cornerstone Ronald McDonald House program began in 1974 based on a simple idea: Provide a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Since that time, more than 10 million families around the world have benefited from the comfort provided by a Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald Family Room program extends the comfort of a Ronald McDonald House to a hospital setting. Typically located just steps from neonatal or pediatric intensive care units, the Family Room provides a place to escape the stress and tension of the hospital. Through relationships with local health care providers, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program brings cost-effective medical, dental and health education services directly to underserved children in both rural and urban areas around the world.

South Jersey Pagan Pride will be collecting canned and dry goods, toothbrushes, toiletries, and other material donations for RMHC.

SJ Pagan Pride Day www.southjerseypaganpride.org

The funds collected through donations, vendor fees, chinese auction and advertising will go towards maintenance costs of this and next years events. South Jersey Pagan Pride is a New Jersey Non Profit Corporation, which is a part of the Pagan Pride Project, Inc. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, please contact us at southjerseypaganpride@gmail.com