Local animal welfare organizations receive grants

Special to Long Beach Breeze

Pictured (l to r) are Lisa Birmingham, director of Grants and Scholarships at GCCF; Wendy Wagner, manager of Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue Foundation in Long Beach; and Dr. Christen H. Duhé, president and executive director of GCCF.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) has announced the 2025 recipients of grants from the Jack A. and Gertrude W. Wilson Animal Welfare Fund, with $100,500 awarded to local animal-welfare organizations this year. Established in 2001, the fund has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to organizations dedicated to animal welfare and related causes in South Mississippi.

In Long Beach, Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue Foundation received $7,500 to provide emergency vet care for pets whose families are facing financial hardship, and For Pet’s Sake Rescue received $10,000 to transport dogs and cats from the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the Northeast, where they have a greater chance of finding homes. These transports also free up space in local shelters, saving more lives.

In Pass Christian, Animal AID (Angels in Disguise) of Mississippi received $8,000 for its Dogs 4 Life project, which will provide preventative and emergency veterinary care for animals in their care and help expand its support for pet owners in need.

Other awardees included CASA of South Mississippi, Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County, Stone County SPCA (Society for the Prevention to Cruelty of Animals), Stone County Community Cat Society, Friends of Jackson County Animal Shelter Pets (FJCASP), and FIXIN THE COAST.

“The Jack A. & Gertrude W. Wilson Animal Welfare Fund has been a lifeline for local animal welfare organizations for more than two decades. We’re proud to support their efforts in creating a safer and more humane community for animals and their families,” said Lisa Birmingham, director of Grants and Scholarships at GCCF.

Dr. Christen H. Duhé, president and executive director of GCCF, agreed, adding, “These grants reflect the Wilsons’ generosity and legacy, which continue to make a tangible difference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by ensuring animals in need receive the care and compassion they deserve. That impact also extends to pet owners and to the people who dedicate their time and hearts to rescuing, protecting and providing for the animals.”

Gulf Coast Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity that has been serving the people of South Mississippi since 1989. GCCF’s primary mission is to increase philanthropy by assisting donors in establishing endowments and legacy giving plans, making grants to worthy causes, and providing leadership in response to the community’s changing needs. To learn more about how to contribute to a fund at GCCF or to establish a fund, visit mgccf.org or call 228-897-4841.