Remembering Greg Reiter on his 55th birthday

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 will be my late husband Greg’s 55th birthday. I hope you will consider a donation to the Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund as a sort of birthday present in his honor.

 

Greg believed firmly that everything happens for a reason. If he was right – and he usually was – then I think perhaps the reason his life was cut short was to jolt me and others into making the most of every minute and seeking every opportunity to make the world a better place.

 

During his life, Greg spent most of his free time helping animals. Hence this Fund, which partners with the animal protection causes Greg and I supported together during his life.

 

Just a few highlights from the last two months:

 

• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has chosen the 2018 winner of its 3rd annual Gregory J. Reiter Animal Rescue Award, to be presented during Greg’s birthday week. Stay tuned! The 2016 award went to Katie McCotter for fostering animals of many species after cruelty and abandonment rescues. The 2017 award went to the Virginia Beach SPCA for sheltering 4,000 companion animals each year.

 

• PETA partnered with the Virginia Beach SPCA to rescue a dog named Christopher, who had become seriously ill after more than two years living 24/7 in an outdoor pen. Thanks to the combined efforts of these two organizations, Christopher’s multiple health issues were resolved — and then I was able to adopt him in mid-May. The Greg Fund supports PETA’s Community Animal Project, which initiated the rescue.

 

• PETA called on owners of Kentucky Derby racehorses to support the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which facilitates adoption of Thoroughbreds who might otherwise go to slaughter when they can no longer race. Audiobook company Audible was one Derby horse sponsor who then made a generous contribution to TAA. The Greg Fund supports PETA’s Cruelty in Horse Racing Campaign.

 

• After a White Coat Waste (WCW) project exposé revealed particularly cruel USDA kitten experiments, bipartisan U.S. Senate and House coalitions introduced bills to end the experiments. The Greg Fund supports WCW Freedom of Information Act work that has led to this exposé among others.

 

• The Greg Fund covered transport costs for seventy hens after a research lab agreed to release them when a fertility experiment was complete. These hens have gone to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary and other eastern U.S. sanctuaries.

 

• Food for Thought – A Program of Animal Place launched a new partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity to raise awareness that meat and dairy are a primary cause of climate change, wildlife extinction, and pollution; and to promote plant-based menus at environmental events. The Greg Fund supports the Food for Thought Program with grants and other resources for wildlife and environmental organizations.

 

Additional information on the Fund’s accomplishments since establishment on Earth Day 2016 can be found in online reports.

 

Thank you so much!

 

~ Alysoun