One-day only pledge to match every donation, dollar-for-dollar
RSPCA South Australia is midway through a fund-raising drive to raise $500K in five days, and so far over $116K has been donated to the organisation's On the Move campaign since it kicked off on Monday.
Inspired by the campaign's heartwarming purpose and increasing momentum, a handful of South Australian businesses and major supporters have pledged to match donations made today, up to a total of $75,000. RSPCA SA CEO Marcus Gehrig described the pledge as a generous and much-appreciated boost at this critical point in the campaign.
"We want all South Australians to have a stake in this game-changing facility for our state's most vulnerable animals," Mr Gehrig said.
"It's not the size of donations but the love behind them that's important, so whether it's $25, $100 or more, every kind gift will help us make this campus the best it can possibly be for animals.
"And today donations will go even further thanks to dollar matching by big-hearted businesses and individuals who - like us - believe all animals deserve comfort, loving quality care and second chances in life."
The new RSPCA SA campus at O'Halloran Hill is being built on a seven-hectare site provided by the state government, but the charity has had to raise the funds for the build. The bulk of the funding has come from the 2022 sales of the organisation's Stepney and Lonsdale properties (the latter retained on a leaseback arrangement), combined with reserves kept in trust solely for the purpose of replacing the rundown Lonsdale shelter, the oldest RSPCA shelter in Australia.
"We've also been able to direct some surplus donations made to support wildlife care during our 2020 Bushfire Appeal towards building a wildlife hospital on the site, the first one in South Australia," Mr Gehrig said.
"But we're short on funding for critical final stages of the build, and that's why we're asking our community to rally now and help us get over the line at this exciting but challenging time."
The list of items RSPCA SA still needs to acquire includes specialised equipment to fit-out the wildlife hospital such as:
- A $12K surgery table for wildlife
- additional anesthetic machines
- blood pressure monitors
- pulse oximeters (non-invasive tool to measure oxygen levels in blood)
The relocation of animals from the Lonsdale shelter to the new campus starts in under two weeks, with the new campus opening to the public early next month.
"The kindness of donations - no matter how big or small – will leave a powerful legacy for vulnerable animals across the state for decades to come," Mr Gehrig said.
"I urge everyone who loves animals to help us hit this fundraising target - it will make that first visit to our campus extra special when you see rescued animals thriving and know you helped make it happen."
Donations can be made online: rspcaonthemove.org.au
