$2.5 Million Patricia Levitt Medical Fund Established at Best Friends Animal Society Will Help New York's Most At-Risk Shelter Pets

The Levitt Family Charitable Foundation has given New York City's most at-risk pets, and those that love them, ample reason to celebrate.  

The recently established Patricia Levitt Medical Fund will provide $2.5 million to Best Friends Animal Society over five years to help treat the city's vulnerable shelter dogs and cats, with the ultimate goal of getting them adopted in fantastic forever homes.

Patricia and Mike Levitt have been supporters of Best Friends Animal Society, the only national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of shelter pets, since 1998.

"We've always given our support to where it would make the biggest impact. Best Friends Animal Society has a proven track record of success in making a huge difference for homeless pets across the country," said Pat Levitt. "As New York City approaches no kill, more shelter pets are coming in with medical issues. This fund is designed to give these dogs and cats the second chance they deserve."

The Patricia Levitt Medical Fund will make a significant impact, especially with the pending opening of Best Friends' Pet Adoption Center in SoHo. The center will open its prime retail adoption space to other local rescue groups, as well, benefitting the city's larger rescue community. All of the animals in the Best Friends program will come from Animal Care Centers of NYC.

"Best Friends is so grateful to the Levitts for this incredibly generous donation, as animals in the greatest peril are a priority for our organization," said Gregory Castle, co-founder and CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. "The Patricia Levitt Medical Fund will give Best Friends the opportunity to provide the life-saving care sick or injured New York City pets need to get to the healthy stage and find a fantastic forever home."

The Levitts have a long history of giving back. As founder of the Michaels Organization, Mike Levitt was the first affordable housing developer in the industry to create a resident scholarship program. Since launching, more than $5.2 million Michaels Organization grants have been given, benefiting more than 2,200 students across the country.

About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. A leader in the no-kill movement, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, adoption centers and spay and neuter facilities in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City as well as lifesaving programs in partnership with more than 1,600 rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in American shelters from 17 million per year to an estimated 4 million. By continuing to build effective initiatives that reduce the number of animals entering shelters and increase the number who find homes, Best Friends and its nationwide network of members and partners are working to Save Them All®.

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