In the Interest of Animal Health...The Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation introduces new (and improved) Good Samaritan Program.
After careful evaluation and many years of trying to raise enough money to implement the Good Samaritan Program, the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation’s Board of Trustees have put together a new program aimed at recognizing exceptional and caring individuals who have voluntarily and unselfishly given their time and expertise to others, while promoting compassion, responsibility and animal welfare.
The Foundation began fundraising for the Good Samaritan Program in 2000. To date, this fund has just over $76,000. In order to launch the Good Samaritan Program as it was originally intended, TVMF would have to raise a minimum of $250,000. With the uncertainty of sustainable funding and the lack of initial funds, it became apparent that the Foundation needed to refocus the program’s primary mission. The Foundation also conducted surveys of the TVMA membership to determine interest in the Good Samaritan Program as it was originally written, and it was determined that the interest level was not enough to justify launching the program.
Therefore, we would like to introduce the New and Improved Good Samaritan Program. The primary goal of this program is promote and recognize those who do exceptional things for animals, the community, and the profession of veterinary medicine. Through this recognition, we hope to educate the public about veterinary medicine, teach animal owner responsibility, and use this program as a public relations vehicle. TVMA members are encouraged to spread the news of this innovative and exciting program. Encourage your staff, colleagues, clients and community to nominate outstanding individuals to be recognized in three award categories.
The Good Samaritan Award is given each year to the individual who best exemplifies the ideals of selfless compassion toward stray or abandoned animals that have been seriously injured or have life-threatening health conditions. To be eligible for this award the individual must have found an animal without an apparent owner that is in immediate and serious need of medical attention, delivered the animal to a veterinary clinic for treatment and assumed all or a significant portion of the financial responsibility for treatment. The attending DVM must make some contribution of uncompensated time or effort to the treatment of the animal and must nominate or support the nomination of the Good Samaritan. The person recognized in this manner will receive a plaque or similar recognition together with the opportunity to name an animal charity of their choice to receive a $5,000 contribution in their name. The DVM providing the medical attention required by the animal and his/her clinic will receive a recognition object suitable for display and will be featured in veterinary and public media.
The Community Service Award is given each year to the DVM who best exemplifies the virtues and ideals of community service and social responsibility. To be eligible for this award, the DVM must be nominated by a member of the veterinary profession and must have a significant and impressive record of community and volunteer service. Both depth and breadth of service will be considered in making the final selection of the recipient. Community service recognized by this award can consist of any unpaid activity that is generally accepted as a benefit to the community, such as elected office, service club membership, youth activity coach or sponsor, service in a humane organization, service on behalf of non-profit organizations, volunteerism of various sorts, and other similar activities. The award recipient will receive an impressive plaque or similar recognition, will receive appropriate notice in veterinary and public media, and will be given the opportunity to name an animal-related charity which shares the mission and values of TVMF for receipt of a $5,000 contribution to be given in their name.
The Visionary Award is given annually to the individual who has made contributions to animal charitable causes that best exemplify the ideals of generosity and compassion toward the animal world in ways most likely to motivate and encourage others to do the same. Thus it is not the magnitude of the gift that is being recognized in this award, but the emotional impact and sacrificial example of the contribution. A true-life example of what we seek to spotlight and encourage with this award is the case of a young girl who asked her family to give contributions to the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation instead of spending the money for presents on her birthday. The person selected for this award will receive an impressive plaque or similar recognition, will receive printed recognition in veterinary and public media, and will be given the opportunity to name an animal-related charity which shares the mission and values of TVMF for the receipt of a $5,000 contribution given in the recipient’s name.
To download a nomination form Click Here.
