CATHERINE VIOLET HUBBARD FOUNDATION INC

STEM BASED STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMMINGTHE SANCTUARY'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING OFFERS A UNIQUE AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO THE NATURAL WORLD AND ITS DIVERSE NATIVE HABITATS. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF IN-CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, FIELD TRIPS, AND FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS, THE SANCTUARY'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING WORKS TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND FOSTER A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP FOR THESE VITAL ECOSYSTEMS, PROTECTING THE ANIMALS AND CREATURES DEPENDENT ON IT FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.RESEARCH HAS SHOWN NATURE-BASED PROGRAMMING CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACTS ON HUMAN EMPATHY AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR. STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT CHILDREN EXHIBIT MORE COOPERATIVE ACTIONS TOWARDS OTHERS AND ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE DECISIONS AFTER EXPOSURE TO NATURE. BY OFFERING TANGIBLE INTERACTIONS WITH NATURE, BOTH ON-SITE AND THROUGH SIMULATED HABITATS IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL FLORA AND FAUNA, CULTIVATE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CONSERVATION ISSUES. THIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH NOT ONLY EDUCATES BUT ALSO INSPIRES ACTION, HELPING TO NURTURE A NEW GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND INCREASE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE PRESERVATION OF NATIVEHABITATS.OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THE SANCTUARY'S LOW- AND NO-COST COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS HAVE ENGAGED OVER 1,000 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY AND, IN 2024, PARTNERED WITH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND WELCOMED 412 STUDENTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE INCREASING INTEREST IN OUR EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS.

SENIOR PAW PROJECT THE SENIOR PAW PROJECT SUPPORTS THE OVERALL WELLNESS OF THE PETS OF FINANCIALLY INSECURE OLDER ADULTS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE, NO-COST VETERINARY CARE, NUTRITION ASSISTANCE, AND TEMPORARY HOUSING SOLUTIONS. THE PROJECT NOT ONLY ENSURES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMPANION ANIMALS BUT, IN ENABLING FINANCIALLY FRAGILE OLDER ADULTS TO KEEP AND CARE FOR THEIR PETS, IT IS ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE OLDER ADULT CARE GIVER. THE PROJECT'S IMPACT HAS NOT ONLY REDUCED PET SURRENDERS AND IMPROVED OVERALL PET HEALTH BUT HAS ALSO EXTENDED BEYOND INDIVIDUAL PET CARE, IMPROVING THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS AND HELPING THEM BETTER MANAGE THEIR OWN AND THEIR PETS' NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICAL NEEDS. AN UNEXPECTED BENEFIT HAS BEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON SHARED COMMUNITY SPACES, AS PETS NOW RECEIVE VACCINATIONS CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.ANNUALLY, THE PROJECT SUPPORTS APPROXIMATELY 400 PETS BELONGING TO OLDER ADULTS IN 48 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS. THE SANCTUARY'S EFFORTS HAVE GAINED RECOGNITION FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS AND GREENWICH COMMUNITIES HAS DESIGNATED THE SANCTUARY AS AN OUTSTANDING PARTNER, UNDERSCORING THE SIGNIFICANT VALUE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS COMPASSIONATE INITIATIVE.