News from the GGRLC Board 📋

Happy Holidays GGRLC friends, 

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the year already. Where has the time gone? We've been up to some pretty amazing things in 2024, and we are excited to share a few highlights of the difference you've made with your generosity:

• Over 2,500 Goldens rescued since 2004
• Nearly 40 dogs, including seven pairs, rescued this year, and 35 dogs adopted
• Semi-annual meet-up events for our adopters, volunteers, supporters, and GGR friends
• Golden Guardian program created to provide for our permanent foster dogs
• Achieved 2024 Top-rated GreatNonprofit status by our supporters
• Earned a Candid Silver Seal of Transparency on GuideStar
• Successful Giving Tuesday with a dollar-for-dollar match of $10,000

Thanks to our amazing fosters, volunteers, adopters, and supporters, we are able to help the Goldens who need us.

Read on for details on volunteering, fostering, an upcoming event, tips and more! Also, be sure to share this newsletter with your family and friends.

Volunteers are essential to GGRLC’s mission of finding forever homes for rescued Golden Retrievers. Expanding our base of volunteers is crucial to the success of GGRLC. We are happy to have Gail, who has a long history of Golden Retriever rescue, as our Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator.

Gail and her husband, Warren, joined Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue (SEVA Grreat) in 1998 after the loss of their 2-year-old Golden, Cody. As active volunteers, they pulled dogs from shelters, fostered Goldens, and ended up being “foster failures” by adopting three Goldens.

When they moved to Georgia in 2004, they discovered GGRLC and got to work right away. A move to Charleston in 2017 found them adding two Goldens, Tank and Tara. Tank later became a therapy dog who visits hospitals, schools, and the Charleston airport as a greeter.

As GGRLC’s Volunteer Coordinator, Gail contacts applicants who express an interest in one or more volunteer roles. By talking with them, she determines what might be the best fit for them, from picking up dogs going into rescue to transporting, fostering, adopting, helping with communications and public relations, and participating in events.

Interested in volunteering with GGRLC? It's easy. Just click here and fill out the Volunteer Application, and Gail will be in touch. We’d love to have you become a member of this great team!

This bed started out as just another soft place for our Rosetta & Sugar to rest. But it has taken on a whole new significance! You see, this bed has become the Foster Bed.

When we take in a new foster, undoubtedly, their back story is filled with pain and grief. Whether the pup has been mistreated, or the original family makes the hard realization that their loved one needs to be rehomed, the transition is always stressful and filled with anxiety. This bed is usually the first place our rescued Golden rests its head and takes a peaceful nap after joining our home. I can’t help but get choked up when I see them give themselves over to sleep. I know my wife, Audra, and my daughter, Caroline, have the same feelings.

This is the beauty of fostering. We know we are but a temporary safe harbor for these wonderful creatures, on their journey to their forever home. And knowing they will have a lifetime of safe, warm and snuggly slumbers, far outweighs our sadness when it’s time for them to move on.

Grateful Goldens Rescue desperately needs more foster homes! If you feel compelled or even just a little pulled at the heartstrings to consider opening your home, feel free to contact message me on Facebook. I am more than willing to share how incredibly rewarding fostering a Golden in need can be!

Scan the QR code to sign up to foster today! 

You Can Now ...

Grateful Goldens Rescue received a request to donate a car. Although we didn't have a program in place for this type of donation, we quickly looked into it and partnered with Careasy.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides this service for nonprofits. Vehicles in any condition can be donated, and the donor selects the partner to receive the funds. It's quick and easy—just click this link to our partner donation page to get started.

We received our first donation of $1,418 from a longtime GGRLC supporter, and we are truly grateful! 👏

We are beyond thrilled to announce that all our boys, Noah, Donut, Pope, and Duke, and Frances Grace, our sweet Goldendoodle, who recently joined the Golden Guardian program, now have their five amazing sponsors!   A massive thank you to each and every one of you for your incredible support of the Golden Guardians program. You’ve made such a difference in their lives!

Your support means the world to us and our Goldens. We’re also starting a Golden Guardian sponsor waiting list. If you’d like to add your name for when a sponsorship becomes available, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

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A Heartfelt Thank You from GGRLC! ❤

Wow, just wow! We are absolutely blown away by the incredible support we received this Giving Tuesday. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to reach our 10,000 goal and then some! We are so grateful to our anonymous donor that matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, doubling your impact and brought so much excitement to our campaign. 👏

 

Your donations will go a long way in helping us provide essential medical care and find loving forever homes for our beloved Goldens. Each and every one of you has made a huge difference in the lives of these wonderful dogs, and we can't thank you enough.

 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of our Grateful Goldens family. Your kindness and support mean the world to us and to all the Goldens in our care.

 

With gratitude, The Grateful Goldens Rescue Team

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Upcoming Event

🤓 The Reading Corner 📚

Here are two recommended books to get you in the holiday spirit! 🎄

One for adults and another for children

GGRLC Tip 💡

Looking for a healthy treat for your dog? This ONE ingredient natural treat, Caledon Farms Sweet Potato Chews, are free of additives, preservatives or colors. It will be sure to provide your dog with a tasty treat and chewing satisfaction. Available at Publix, Chewy, Amazon, and Sam's Club online.

  Ways You Can Help GGRLC 

• Volunteer - there are so many ways you can help, especially fostering!
• Hearts of Gold ~  "In Honor of " or "In Memory of" a special someone or pet
• Shop in the GGRLC Store
• Sign up for iGive and Walmart Spark Good
• Walk for a Dog Wooftrax
• Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards - 9 Households helped contribute $7.44 to GGRLC during the 3rd quarter of 2024. 👏 
• Check if your Employer has a Matching Gift Program  - We've seen a real increase in employer matching donations - Thank You!
• DONATE to help with the medical expenses of our Goldens and Golden mixes.
• Donate a Vehicle - We are now a partner of the CARS Donation Program. CARS makes donating your car easy.
• Did You Know? Many supporters give stock and grants from Donor Advised funds or make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, all of which are more “tax-smart” than giving cash. To learn more about these types of charitable vehicles, click here.

THANK YOU! ❤🐾

from Grateful Goldens Rescue

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