The SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County has received a $39,169 grant from the Louise R. Lester Foundation to support its work with homeless animals in the region.
The grant funded the purchase of a rescue transport vehicle to move animals and supplies to and from fundraising and off-site adoption events, transport animals from municipal pounds, and connect with rescue transfer partners.
“This extremely generous grant from the Louise R. Lester Spay Foundation enabled the SPCA to purchase a rescue transport vehicle, critically needed to transport animals and supplies to and from fund-raising and off-site adoption events, for transportation from the two municipal pounds from which we receive animals, and to meet rescue transfer partners when we have a need and opportunity to get animals to areas with higher adoption demand,” said Catherine Gupton, chief operating officer of the SPCA.
“The Louise R. Lester Foundation has been instrumental in helping us open and sustain our clinic and now has provided us with a transport vehicle to save more lives and better serve the community. We are beyond grateful for the foundation’s continued support of our mission,” she said.
BJ Robertson, executive director of the Louise R. Lester Foundation, said the grant continues the legacy of Louise Robertson Lester.
“Our investments in the SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County continues Louise Robertson Lester’s compassionate advocacy in the community where she lived and worked,” Robertson said. “Our partnership with the SPCA upholds the foundational work Mrs. Lester achieved during her lifetime, helping the SPCA to continue to achieve the humane milestones consistent with Louise’s vision for the community.”
Founded in 2001, the Louise R. Lester Foundation supports nonprofit religious, scientific, literary, humanitarian, and educational organizations in the greater Roanoke Valley, Smith Mountain Lake, and Henry County areas.
The SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County, founded in 1974, provides humane services, education, and animal control support. Since opening the Louise R. Lester Spay & Neuter Clinic in 2021, the organization has performed more than 7,000 surgeries. The SPCA has saved more than 40,000 animal lives since its founding and recorded nearly 11,000 volunteer hours in 2024.
For more information, visit www.spcamhc.org.
