Celebrating 40 Years of Impact
2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation (TVMF). The Foundation was founded in 1978 by a group of veterinarians who had a vision to care for animals, provide free education programming for the pet-owning public and lend support to the veterinary profession for both current professionals and aspiring students. Since its establishment in 1978, the Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that serves as the charitable and philanthropic arm of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, has developed robust program offerings that give life to our mission to care for animals, serve the pet-owning community of Texas and advance the veterinary profession.
Programs of the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation include:
- TVMF PALS program, a partnership with Meals on Wheels organizations to provide veterinary care free of charge to the pets of Meals on Wheels clients. Since starting in Austin in 2012, the TVMF PALS program has expanded to include services in Dallas, Houston, Bryan/College Station, and Abilene, and currently serves more than 300 pets a year.
- Rusk Veterinary Assistance Grants which offer financial assistance for qualifying families in need of medical or surgical intervention for their beloved pet. These one-time grants aim to preserve the human animal bond by funding life-saving or life-changing veterinary care to a pet that might otherwise be relinquished, euthanized, or enduring prolonged suffering.
- Disaster relief to assist veterinarians who provide medical care to the animal victims during and after any disaster. In the fall of 2017, TVMF provided financial assistance to many veterinarians along the Texas coast as they treated and housed animals injured or displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
- Supporting veterinary students by providing first year students with new stethoscopes to use during their education, offering scholarship awards for summer research projects, sponsoring veterinary student activities, and providing emergency grants to students who experience an unforeseen crisis or expense during their degree program.
Dr. Chad Harris, President of the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation, says, “What we have built with the partnership of our friends and donors spans four decades in the great state of Texas, and we want to extend our sincere thanks for their belief in our mission. We are deeply proud of the partnership we have built with community members and veterinary professionals throughout Texas.”
Throughout 2018, TVMF will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary through events, social media campaigns, giveaways, and unique ways to support the mission of caring for animals, educating the pet-owning public and furthering the advancement of the veterinary profession. Visit tvmf.org or https://www.facebook.com/texasvmf/ to learn more.