“He is the best companion Al and I could have hoped for,” Barbara shared. From the moment Winston entered the Dragons’ home, he has been their loving, loyal friend. The Dragons adopted their dog, Winston, from the AWA years ago, helping nurse him back to health after he came to the AWA severely underweight and also fighting pneumonia. Without a doubt the remaining funds will be raised in 2019.” “These are the kind of magnanimous gifts that generate excitement, as well as participation from other equally loyal friends. “Al and Barbara’s gift will inspire other AWA friends and animal lovers to join the ‘Building a Place Where Happiness Begins’ campaign,” AWA board member and Capital Campaign co-chair Lynn Fryckberg said in a release about the donation. In recognition of the Dragons’ generosity, the lobby of the new shelter will be named the “Al and Barbara Dragon Lobby.” The campaign’s goal is to construct a new 15,000 square-foot shelter and adoption center at the Voorhees site, thus completely changing the landscape of the nonprofit’s ability to take care of animals and work with the community.ĪWA donors Albert and Barbara Dragon pledged $250,000 to the AWA’s capital campaign earlier this year toward funding a modern animal adoption center. The board is conducting a national search for AWA’s next Executive Director.In an effort to continue its goal of providing care for incoming animals, the Animal Welfare Association’s board of directors announced in November the launch of a $2.5 million capital campaign. Richmond will work part-time until the new building is open and the animals are in their new home. We all wish her the best and hope she returns to visit,” says Nanci Urban Shelter Services Manager. “I speak for the entire staff when I say we have learned so much under her leadership and her love of learning. And nearly 3,000 people take part in one of AWA’s humane education or public training workshops.” Annually, over eight thousand animals are adopted, seen at the Pet Clinic, or kept in their homes through pet safety net programs. “Today the operating budget is over three million dollars. “When she started, we had a few thousand donors, twenty staff and adopted and spayed/neutered a few thousand animals a year operating on a budget of just over one million dollars,” said Jim Miles, AWA board treasurer and member for twenty-five years. She worked with foundations and donors to grow support to fund significant expansion of our programs while simultaneously building the foundation for the AWA we have today which is physically manifested in the new Adoption and Education Center
Her passion, skills and drive elevated AWA’s services and programs. “In 2009 the board felt fortunate Maya accepted the position because of her business and program experience however, we now know how very fortunate her hiring has been for the entire AWA community,” states Jonathan Furlow, AWA’s Board President. Richmond’s vision and leadership will be greatly missed by the board, staff, volunteers, donors, and nonprofit partners alike. Facilitating over 27,000 adoptions and 96,000 spays/neuters.Leading and raising 100% of AWA’s first capital campaign for $2,500,000 for the new building.
In her ten years of being with the Animal Welfare Association as Executive Director, Maya Richmond designed and oversaw the construction of the new Adoption and Education Center slated to open in late 2021.Īfter a decade of tireless work to further Animal Welfare Association’s (AWA) mission and vision, Maya Richmond has announced that she will be departing from her role as Executive Director.ĭuring her tenure, Richmond has been the driving force behind AWA’s growth and success as an organization.