Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2022) – Monday, August 8, 2022, marks a very special day for Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe. The private non-profit organization, dedicated to the mission of “people helping animals, animals helping people,” will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding and incorporation. Helen Woodward Animal Center staff, board members, Center friends, and the local community are invited to celebrate this monumental anniversary. A 50th Anniversary Celebration will occur THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 2022 at the Center Pavilion at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
Helen Whittier Woodward, the Center’s founder, was committed to making the world better for people and animals. In 1972, the California native who maintained a home in Del Mar for 40 years, set out with a group of friends to create a facility that would encompass comprehensive animal care and public education programs. Through her support and guidance, the facility established itself with one of the best animal and human service programs in the area and continued to thrive under her leadership until her death on November 12, 1984. With Helen’s passing, the organization continued to build upon her dream and on November 12, 1985, the Center’s Board of Directors renamed the facility in her honor.
In the 50 years since her founding, Helen Woodward Animal Center has become one of the most respected animal facilities in the world. With fourteen unique programs celebrating the healing power of animals and people, the Center can now boast a conservative number of more than 19 million animals saved or assisted and over 1 million people served.
In addition to Helen Woodward Animal Center’s adoption services, the Center also offers a wide variety of community and educational services. Here are a few:
AniMeals – providing food for the pets of homebound elderly people throughout San Diego County with the help of partner organizations like Meals on Wheels.
Companion Animal Hospital – a high-tech “small animal” facility, open to all cats, dogs, and exotic animals
Equine and Large Animal Hospital – providing high-quality veterinary care for the health and welfare of the community horse population and education to the public and equine professionals in matters of the health and welfare of horses.
Humane Education Programs – teaching children respect, compassion, responsibility, safety, and how to provide care for animals through hands-on animal encounters.
Pet Encounter Therapy – bringing unconditional love of animals to hospitals, convalescent centers, children’s facilities, and other institutions.
Pets Without Walls – providing health services and pet food to help keep pets with their beloved owners through the hardship of homelessness.
Remember Me Thursday – uniting the entire world through social media on the 4th Thursday in September to share the importance of pet adoption, and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues.
Therapeutic Horseback Riding – assisting with increased balance and muscle control, improved concentration and short-term memory, and enhanced confidence and self-esteem for the physically and mentally challenged.
The Business of Saving Lives – providing complimentary three-day and one-day workshops for animal welfare staff and volunteers covering everything from humane education to public relations to help organizations run as life-saving businesses.
Club Pet Boarding Facility – providing “a home away from home” and the very best attention and care for your pet’s physical and emotional needs.
Home 4 the Holidays Pet Adoption Campaign – encouraging families during the holidays to save lives by adopting their pets from animal shelters and rescue groups and to take business away from puppy mills and backyard breeders.
Some impressive statistics for Helen Woodward Animal Center:
- Over 65,000 canines and felines were assisted and placed into loving homes by Helen Woodward Animal Center.
- Over 945,000 people (adults and children) were touched by Helen Woodward Animal Center humane education, therapeutic riding, and pet therapy services.
- Over 500,000 people touched through Helen Woodward Animal Center’s adoption department.
- Over 5.1 million AniMeals served to pets of homebound elderly people, via our partner organizations like Meals on Wheels.
- Over 4,000 partner organizations involved in our Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays annual adoption campaign, including all 50 states and 23 countries.
- Over 19 million orphan pet adoptions since the 1999 inception of the Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays adoption campaign.
- Over 1.6 million volunteer hours given by the community to help support Center services, just since 1995.
- Over 17.5 million website visits since 1999.
- Over 47 states and 13 country organizations reached with our Business of Lives educational workshops and offsite assessments.
The Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is scheduled for THIS SATURDAY, August 6th
11:00 a.m. VIP EVENT BEGINS – MEDIA IS WELCOME!
- Brunch and champagne
- Welcome from Center PR Director Jessica Gercke
- 50th Anniversary Video Viewing
- Words from Center President and CEO Mike Arms
- Words from Center Chairman of the Board and Helen Woodward’s Grandson Bryce Rhodes
- Words from Helen Woodward’s daughter Win Rhodes
- Words from San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. FREE COMMUNITY EVENT!
- Meet-and-greets with Center Animal Ambassadors
- Kids Crafts
- Face Painting
- Games
- Center Tours
- Pizza, Beverages, and Snow Cones for purchase
(Parking will be offered in the lot next to the pavilion. Overflow parking is offered at the Plaza next door and it is a short walk to the Center. Parking is also available at the Horizon Church lot on El Apajo Road.)
ANOTHER WAY SUPPORTERS CAN PARTICIPATE – DONATE TO THE NEXT 50!
Helen Woodward Animal Center is gladly accepting birthday gifts to save even more lives in the next 50 years to come! Help us celebrate our 50th anniversary by donating to help us meet our match!
Generous supporter, Robert Akins, will match up to $50,000 of your gifts to contribute towards the next 50 years of life-saving work. Please give today.