The barn raising project has brought the added bonus of helping us realize just how many people care about the disenfranchised pit bulls of the world. It feels so good. Tim wrote earlier about the personal notes that cross his desk during his late night catch-up chores and the unexpected emotions that come up when connecting with people who care so deeply. We were taken aback recently by a note from a SF bay area gal named Tana Madrigal who's been watching us since the Vick dogs came home. She told us that she wanted to help the barn project and she offered us 10K if we could raise another 10K in matching funds. Wow. We knew there had to be a pit bull story behind that incredible generosity...
...It turns out that our kind benefactor grew up half a world away in the Philippines, surrounded by her family's pit bulls. Now her heart is in Los Angeles, where a little orphan named Blissy Lissy (above) is waiting to come home to meet Tana for the first time and become a part of her family. Lissy was found by two Best Friends members in an east LA shelter, covered with many lacerations. She is deaf - which tells us she's extra special. I love that this former street stray is getting a fresh start with someone she's never met, and at the same time, so are the dogs that will be finding safe haven in our barn. Thank you for following your heart, Tana. The dogs are blessed to have you on their side.
$1898 has already been raised towards this big matching gift challenge. If we can raise an additional $8012 (wow, that sounds like a lot), we can jump our bar up and over the $60K mark. Holy moly.
Tana's match has been jump started by these dog lovin' gifters: Kirsten Reed (thank you Kirsten!), Kathleen Pierce, Amy Willey, Will Stearman, Dixie Wells, Cendall Williams, LeeAnne Miller, Sara A Reusche, Sally Anastassiou, Nicole Steinbeck, Rosemarie Tarampi, Thomas C. Bethea III, Leigh Marion, Karin Adams, Soraya Nasirian, Vintage Grace and Stephanie Chang. Thank you to all!
The barn raising project has brought the added bonus of helping us realize just how many people care about the disenfranchised pit bulls of the world. It feels so good. Tim wrote earlier about the personal notes that cross his desk during his late night catch-up chores and the unexpected emotions that come up when connecting with people who care so deeply. We were taken aback recently by a note from a SF bay area gal named Tana Madrigal who's been watching us since the Vick dogs came home. She told us that she wanted to help the barn project and she offered us 10K if we could raise another 10K in matching funds. Wow. We knew there had to be a pit bull story behind that incredible generosity... 
Tana's match has been jump started by these dog lovin' gifters: Kirsten Reed (thank you Kirsten!), Kathleen Pierce, Amy Willey, Will Stearman, Dixie Wells, Cendall Williams, LeeAnne Miller, Sara A Reusche, Sally Anastassiou, Nicole Steinbeck, Rosemarie Tarampi, Thomas C. Bethea III, Leigh Marion, Karin Adams, Soraya Nasirian, Vintage Grace and Stephanie Chang. Thank you to all!
