2023 Annual Review
The Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities is dedicated to making the world better for animals, with an emphasis on systemic change that also benefits people.
In calendar year 2023, as in 2022, the Fund issued a total of $52,000 in grants — $1,000 for each year of Greg’s life.
2023 grant recipients were:
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
- Woodstock Farm Sanctuary
- Mercy for Animals
- Humane Long Island
- Faunalytics
Below are details of the Fund’s 2023 grants to these organizations, followed by a shout-out to those who generously donated into the Fund during the calendar year.
1 – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) — Norfolk, VA and worldwide
a – The Fund made a grant to PETA’s Global Compassion Fund for the 3rd consecutive year — and in 2023 as in 2022, the primary emphasis was Ukraine relief work. PETA Deutschland shipped 40 tons of animal food into Ukraine each month, and supported Animal Rescue Kharkiv — recipient of PETA’s 2023 8th Annual Gregory J Reiter Animal Rescue Award — in saving over 15,000 animals from missile strikes and disasters. The Global Compassion Fund also provided low-cost companion animal spay / neuter services in Ukraine and other countries including Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines.
b – The Fund made a grant to PETA’s Equine Matters campaign for the 8th consecutive year. In 2023, PETA persuaded the California Horse Racing Board to amend its rules, prohibiting licensees from participating in or even attending unsanctioned and often deadly “bush track” races. Anheuser-Busch announced that it would stop amputating tails of its Budweiser Clydesdale horses, responding to PETA’s investigation of its Missouri farms and a nationwide campaign against the practice. Meanwhile, PETA has been working to protect juvenile Thoroughbreds who are not covered by US federal race horse protections. And last but not least, PETA rescued former US race horses including My Elusive Dream from the slaughter pipeline in South Korea.
c – The Fund made a grant to PETA’s Cruelty Investigations / Community Animal Project for the 8th consecutive year. In 2023, this PETA team’s many services included free and low-cost sterilization of approximately 12,000 cats and dogs in underserved Virginia and North Carolina communities around its US headquarters — a total of nearly 225,000 spay and neuter procedures since 2001.
2 – Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) — Washington, DC and worldwide
The Fund made a grant to the Physicians Committee in 2023 for the 8th consecutive year — and was a sponsor of the Exam Room Podcast for the 5th consecutive year. Highlighting the many ways plant-based diets improve human health while also sparing animals and the global environment, in 2023 this podcast celebrated the milestone of 18 million downloads of 500 episodes in over 150 countries. The Exam Room also went live in person, with sold-out events in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC.
3 – Woodstock Farm Sanctuary — High Falls, NY
The Fund made a grant to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in 2023 for the 5th year — its 2nd year of support for the Fair Coalition initiative, which works to end cruel practices at state and county fairs.
4 – Mercy for Animals — Los Angeles, CA and worldwide
The Fund made its 1st grant to Mercy for Animals in 2023, to support The Transfarmation Project, which helps farmers transition from animal agriculture to raising crops for human consumption. Since launching in 2019, Transfarmation has provided guidance to farmers in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, and Indiana; and published farmer resources like conversion plans and crop guides.
5 – Humane Long Island — Riverhead, NY
The Fund made its 1st grant to Humane Long Island in 2023 — supporting its work in New York and beyond, which includes rescuing domestic fowl and other wild and farmed animals, advising municipalities and schools on humane practices, advocating to stop cruel uses of animals in entertainment, and organizing vegan events.
6 – Faunalytics — San Diego, CA and worldwide
The Fund made a grant to Faunalytics in 2023 for the 2nd year, to support its research project in progress “Reducing Harm Or Encouraging Exploitation: The Impact Of Humanewashing On Consumer Behavior.” Faunalytics fills the important niche of research to help animal advocates become more effective and evidence-based.
THANK YOU to everyone who donated into the Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund and the above partner initiatives in 2023!
- Alejandro H Aguilar
- Scott Anderson
- Ting Yi Bell
- John Bolton
- Monica Chen in memory of Kathryn Chen
- Jeana Curro
- Shannon Gilmore
- Joni & Paul Jablansky
- Keith Kemplin
- Ilona Lantos
- Dana Meeker
- Kelly Molino
- James North II
- David Lee Red
- Cynthia Lynn Sampson
- Anonymous (4)