Philanthropy at Work

 

Kitties are my favorite because they are very cute  – Bobby 

Giving from the Heart

Bobby Davenport (6) and his sister, Liv (8), have a special place in their hearts for animals—especially cats.

Their first cat, Alfie, was an affectionate Siamese mix who liked to snuggle. After he passed away in 2021, the Davenport family went to an adoption event in Napa, California for Whiskers, Tails and Ferals—a local rescue organization. Liv told volunteers she was looking for a “Siamese snuggle cat.”

Liv got her wish and found the perfect feline companion, who she named Olivia Grace (also known as O.G.)—a total lap cat who likes to sleep with her. O.G. had been in bad shape when she first arrived at the rescue and received life-saving treatment at the UC Davis veterinary hospital before she was ready for adoption.

The Davenport family also had another cat, Jazzy, who was pregnant when she was found as a stray. They fostered Jazzy after her kittens were adopted and decided to give her a forever home since she was too frightened to go to adoption events.

Last December, Jazzy was ill and needed urgent end-of-life care. However, her local veterinary clinic was closed. Since Bobby and Liv wanted to be with Jazzy in her final moments, their mother Eve contacted the UC Davis veterinary hospital. She was grateful that the hospital was able to accommodate her family and provide a peaceful and caring environment where they could say goodbye to Jazzy and comfort her in her final moments.

When it was getting close to the end of the year, Eve asked her children what they wanted to do with the $20 they had saved from their allowances.

“Bobby and Liv chose to donate it to the kind veterinarians, staff and students at the UC Davis veterinary hospital who helped Jazzy and O.G.,” Eve said. “We are so grateful to them!”

Protecting the Salish Sea

Sisters Rose (11) and Hazel (8) Holmes have always enjoyed exploring the outdoors. When they still lived in Montana, Rose wanted to learn about saltwater ecosystems, despite not having direct access to the sea.

Inspired by her teacher, Rose borrowed the book Explore the Salish Sea: A Nature Guide for Kids from another classroom. Published by the SeaDoc Society, this book is filled with full-color photography and non-fiction narrative that inspires outdoor exploration of the area. She and Hazel also viewed all the videos produced by SeaDoc.

It was super great to learn about the Salish Sea, I just want to thank the SeaDoc Society for all the work they do to ensure the health of this area.  – Rose Holmes

Founded in 2000, the SeaDoc Society conducts and sponsors vital scientific research in the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest, also known as the Salish Sea. This rich and vibrant ecosystem is home to 37 species of mammals, 172 species of birds, 253 species of fish and more than 3,000 species of invertebrates. Nearly eight million people make this region their home today while billions of dollars are generated annually by Salish Sea commercial and recreational activities.

When their family moved to Washington state in 2021, Rose and Hazel were thrilled. They could finally explore the beaches and environment they had already grown to love thanks to SeaDoc’s outreach. One of the SeaDoc Society’s unique strengths is translating science into action. Like SeaDoc, Rose was determined to transform her love for the Salish Sea into a tangible way to support its health. Last summer she came up with the idea to set up a lemonade stand so that she and Hazel could raise awareness and funds for SeaDoc. Through their hard work, they were able to make a generous donation of $30.

Rose is interested in pursuing a career in marine biology and is already determined to attend a local high school with a marine biology program.