The Animal Welfare Association announced Wednesday it has been awarded $250,000 to help fund construction of an new animal adoption center in Voorhees.
The award was provided by Albert Dragon and Barbara Dragon to help support AWA’s $2.5 million ‘Building a Place Where Happiness Begins’ capital campaign project. AWA said this is the largest single individual donation in its 70 year history.
The 15,000-square-foot center will house and care for homeless animals, expand AWA’s community programs and be outfitted with specialty animal care space for medical and behavioral rehabilitation efforts.
“I am looking forward to 2020, walking into the new center’s lobby and seeing the Dragon’s name prominently displayed. Their gift will be a daily reminder to all of us of how important it is that AWA is the place where animals that are on death’s doorstep can recover and go on to live the lives they deserve,” Maya Richmond, executive director of the AWA, said. “AWA’s capital campaign is about ensuring tomorrow’s animals receive all that they need while also ensuring that our community remains vigilant when it comes to caring for animals.”
Since announcing the campaign in November 2018, AWA said it has raised $1.275 million of its $2.5 million goal.
“Al and Barbara’s gift will inspire other AWA friends and animal lovers to join the Building a Place Where Happiness Begins campaign,” Lynn Fryckberg, AWA board member and capital campaign co-chair, said. “These are the kind of magnanimous gifts that generate excitement as well as participation from other equally loyal friends. Without a doubt the remaining funds will be raised in 2019.”
AWA said construction is slated for completion in the next 12 months with an opening date in late 2020.
