Who said corporate executives and artists never think alike? When Hurricane Katrina blew into the Gulf Coast on August 29, these right and left brain types were all on the same wavelength: They wanted to help the victims of this massive storm, including those who walk on four legs, slither on the ground, or fly in the air.
Granted, their contributions took different forms—artists tended to use their gifts to raise money or awareness, corporate executives used their power to move mountains to provide badly needed supplies—but their impulses were the same. They wanted to help the animals. They weren't alone, either. More than 200,000 people responded to The HSUS's call for help following Katrina. Generous donations flowed in. Fundraisers were held. Supplies were donated. Artwork was auctioned, and songs were written.
Getting Creative for the Cause
Some truly unique contributions came from the creative community. MUTTS® cartoonist Patrick McDonnell auctioned a rare original, hand-colored and signed Sunday strip that brought more than $10,000 into The HSUS's Disaster Relief Fund.
Other cartoonists, including Brian Bassett (Red & Rover) and Phil Frank (Farley) used their strips to provide information on how to help the animal victims by contributing to The HSUS. During the height of the disaster response, for example, Frank devoted two separate strips to highlight how animal advocates could donate online or via snail mail. Bassett did much the same with a trio of empathic strips that ran September 19-21.
A group of Nashville musicians got together to write and record a moving song dedicated to a rescued dog named Lacy Campbell. "There Is a Place, There Is a Home" became a music video tribute to all the Katrina animals and to the people who risked so much to save them. Songwriters Elizabeth Moxham and Ingrid Dumosch, vocalist Susan Compton, and musicians Bob McGilpin and John Foster all donated their talents. The images and video were shot and edited by HSUS videographers and photographers.
To help spread the word, a Georgia-based company, FilmDogz, produced a public service announcement (PSA) that tells the disaster story from the point of view of a dog left to fend for himself. And documentary filmmaker Andrew Goldberg produced another PSA, "Who Will Help," encouraging support for The HSUS.
Celebrities stepped up to do PSAs for us, too, including Joe Montegna, Wendie Malick, Sean Astin, Carrie Underwood, Bill Maher, and Persia White.
Corporate World Tilts for Animals
Given our many years of experience in disaster work, The HSUS anticipated many of the needs along the Gulf Coast—materials to set up a temporary shelter, food, water, rescue equipment. But nothing in our—or anyone's—experience could have prepared us and the others who responded for the enormity and the variety of supplies and services that would be needed to provide for thousands of animals as well as for the army of staff and volunteers needed to rescue and care for them.
Thankfully, the corporate world stood ready to help.
Hundreds of companies participated in this heroic effort. Many donated their products, services and staff, or sold us products and services at a discount. Everyone seemed to understand the urgency, and they moved every obstacle to get us what was needed as fast as humanly possible.
We'd like to give a special thanks to all our corporate supporters who provided their products and services to aid our animal rescue and sheltering efforts. Below is a list of some of the many companies that contributed materials and staff time. We regret if it is not as comprehensive as it should be. So many companies shipped vital supplies during the first days of the disaster without ever being asked. Others provided materials to our fellow animal welfare organizations. These are acknowledged as "anonymous" below. Our deepest thanks go out to all.
