The Farley Foundation supports the relationship between pets and people by generating and allocating resources to subsidize veterinary care for Ontario families in need.
Letter to donors
The Farley Foundation had a very successful year! We helped 1,625 pets, totalling almost 17,000 pets helped since our inception in 2002. We also raised over $1.3 million and disbursed more than $992,000. None of this would have been possible without your incredible generosity and unwavering belief in our mission.
We made significant strides in community outreach. We were thrilled to receive a $10,000 grant from the 100 Women Who Care in Wilmot, and we engaged with the Rotary Club of Oakville and the Simcoe County Age-Friendly Committee. We increased our community connections at the Milton Farmer’s Market and Peavy Mart Welland’s Community BBQ. As a new member of the Milton Chamber of Commerce, we were honored to be nominated for its Not-for-Profit of the Year Award. We also launched a pilot project with SafePet Ontario, which helps people and pets escape violence in Ontario, and granted the charity $40,000 to help cover the cost of veterinary care for animals participating in its pet-safekeeping program.
We embraced new technologies this year to enhance our donor relationships and streamline our processes. We launched a new database and implemented a new donation processing platform on our website. Our new text-to-give feature and the option for interactive e-transfers makes donating more accessible and convenient for our supporters. We also launched a new online funding portal, allowing veterinary clinics to more easily submit funding applications, and we hired two additional staff members.
This year wasn’t without its challenges, including navigating rising costs and an increased demand for support. Your contributions have been vital in helping us meet these needs and continue making a meaningful difference.
We're already halfway to our goal of doubling our impact, in just one year. We've accomplished so much - we hope you share our excitement for what lies ahead! Thanks to your support, we’re creating a brighter future for pets and their families across Ontario.
Yours in philanthropy,
Dr. Gwen Jeun, president, and John Stevens, executive director
WHY I GIVE
Our family has been a supporter of the Farley Foundation for over a decade. We love what the foundation stands for, helping the pets of Ontario’s most vulnerable people get necessary veterinary care. We also love the grassroots history of the organization and the way it brings the veterinary community together through fundraising and community events. We can’t think of a more worthy organization for our charitable donations.” ~ Matthew
Your impact: who we helped
Sharing our lives with an animal helps us treat stress, depression, high blood pressure, and increases social interaction and physical activity. The simple act of petting an animal has been shown to lower your heart rate and increase a sense of well-being. Looking after our pets also contributes to our sense of purpose. For many who are elderly or have a disability, or who are struggling financially, this is critical to their well-being.
Jean-Luc & Rory
"Jean-Luc needed emergency surgery for a life-threatening gastrointestinal blockage. My partner and I were devastated—we love him and his sister, Ellie, deeply, and they’ve brought so much joy to our lives since we rescued them from a neglectful situation. We would do anything for them, but with our savings depleted and the rising cost of living, we didn’t know how we could afford the care he desperately needed. When our vet told us about the Farley Foundation and that we were approved for support, it felt like a lifeline. That generosity meant we could focus on Jean-Luc’s recovery without the overwhelming worry of mounting debt. Ellie has her best friend back, and we didn’t have to say goodbye to our boy. Your kindness saved Jean-Luc’s life and gave us hope when we needed it most. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being there for families like ours. We are forever grateful.”
I would like to extend many thanks and much gratitude for helping me with Seven's surgery. I was desperate and heartbroken as my affordable option was euthanasia, which was extremely upsetting as Seven isn't quite three and was healthy/happy until he ate something he shouldn't have. Seven is home and on the road to recovery thanks to you! I will never forget what your organization has done for me and my Seven." ~ Vicki
Best foundation in the world. They helped my dog Gizmo remove a cancer growth from his tail, and I so appreciate all they did to give me more years with my best buddy. So much love and respect to this foundation" ~ Garry
In 2023-2024, the Farley Foundation assisted:
- 931 Ontario Disability Support Program recipients
- 201 Ontario Works recipients
- 188 pet owners earning less than $25,000/year
- 157 seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- 112 Canada Pension Plan Disability recipients
- 36 participants in the SafePet Ontario program*
*SafePet Ontario helps to find temporary foster care for the pets of individuals seeking safety from domestic violence.
Recently the veterinarian said I needed a special test called an ultrasound. My mom couldn't have possibly afforded it without the Farley Foundation. From one very grateful cat, I want to thank the foundation for providing the financial means for me to have this test." ~ Buddy the Cat
Bozley & Teresa
"My golden retriever's name is Bozley. My vet helped me with this (applying for Farley Foundation funding) and I am forever grateful. You helped my boy with medication and a heart ultrasound. I would not have been able to provide this for him, as I'm on a disability pension. When I found out what had to be done, I was devastated and thought that I may have to surrender him to someone who could provide more help for him financially. I wasn't sure that I could handle another loss in my life. I love my best friend - I live alone, and he is my constant companion. This potential loss would have affected me in ways I don't want to think about. I appreciate this help more than you could possibly know."
Special events
The Farley Foundation held three fundraising events in 2023-2024:
- Summit Veterinary Pharmacy Ride for Farley
- Fundraise for Farley Month
- Giving Tuesday
The 2023 Summit Veterinary Pharmacy Ride for Farley took place in September as a hybrid event, with participants riding in-person or participating in an activity of their choice at home. More than $42,000 was raised! Thank you to everyone who participated and donated—every dollar raised will help change the lives of a person and a pet!
In October 2023, more than 275 veterinary clinics participated in Fundraise for Farley Month, the Farley Foundation’s largest annual fundraising campaign, raising more than $230,000 to help low-income pet owners in Ontario. Events included dog washes, raffles, point of sale donations, bake sales, dog walks and more. The top fundraiser for the third year in a row was Mississippi Veterinary Services, raising more than $16,000. Thank you to all the clinics, donors and supporters for making this event such a success!
In November 2023, the Farley Foundation participated in Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement. The foundation's team set a goal of $5,000 for this initial campaign. With an anonymous matching donor, the event far exceeded expectations, raising an astounding $53,000!
Butters & Stefanie
"What you do truly makes such a difference. It has been a very difficult few years in my household. I have undergone a divorce, had serious medical issues arise and lost over 60 per cent of my business. The only constant in my life has been my dog, Butters. I do everything I can to make sure that he is healthy and happy, but he has needed dental surgery for the past couple of years and I've not been able to afford it. It finally got to a point where the decaying teeth were starting to have an effect on his overall well-being, and something had to be done. My veterinarian helped us apply for funding through the Farley Foundation, and to my enormous relief, we were approved. Butters had 32 rotten teeth removed. While we still need to have more testing done on his liver and other organs that were affected by the decaying teeth, I can already tell that he feels better. He is smiling with what teeth he has left! This surgery never would have been possible otherwise, so I cannot thank you, and the dedicated veterinary staff, for helping my fur baby when I could not."
My vet told me that Baxter needed surgery to remove his eye to prevent infection and additional issues. I felt sick. Not only because I was so worried for Baxter, but also because I didn't know how I would be able to pay for the operation. The Farley Foundation saved Baxter! He had his surgery and is now fully recovered. He's more happy and he enjoys things more, like going for walks. Baxter is my best friend. He is family. He has been always there for me through good times and bad, and I can't imagine what life would be like without him. You don't know what this means to me." ~ Matthew
2023-24 Board of Directors
Thank you to the Farley Foundation board of directors:
- Dr. Gwen Jeun, President
- Dr. Albert Wimmers, Vice-President
- Dr. Deanne Croft
- Dr. Sue Dorland
- Dr. Sally Moran
- Dr. Liz O'Brien
- Dr. Matthew Richardson
- Dr. Ellen Shapiro