Kids are really getting involved at HAWS - from volunteering at the shelter to doing school projects that promote animal welfare to donating the proceeds from their lemonade stands...young adults, teens and tweens are coming up with some great ideas to support HAWS! Our caring community has a bright future.
One such caring kid is Jake Zellmer. Jake and his extended family, the Zellmer-Granzows, have continued their support of HAWS through several generations. Jake's grandfather is a retired Waukesha policeman who was part of our early animal control efforts. Each year the family donates in memory of Jake's uncle, Jeff. Jake's mom, Amy, led the "HAWS Drive 2008" - even getting the hotels she works with to donate their used towels.
(Ironically, the Bellagio in Las Vegas didn't have any used towels, so they donated new ones, which leads us to wonder if the HAWS animal residents are thinking red, black, odd, even, double down, call, fold, raise...)
This year the family took their support of HAWS to a new level: Jake, 13, who drives the #99 car in the Central States Region Jr. Division Super Cup stock car circuit, has made HAWS an honorary sponsor of his racing team. HAWS' logo is on his car and trailer, and Jake is making several personal appearances on HAWS behalf.
This past Sunday, Jake joined our Mobile Adoptions unit at an event at Drexel Interiors on Bluemound. Bleary-eyed from a late night of racing on Saturday, Jake took on any comers who wanted to challenge him to Playstation's NASCAR '09. While the Drexel set up included a large screen flat panel TV and comfy couch, he resisted the urge to nap. We would've certainly understood, though, because the reason for his fatigue was...
...Jake is the 2008 Season CSR Jr. Division Super Cup Champion, AND he also won the Indiana and Illinois Tri-State Championships a few weekends earlier! The points race for the Super Cup is similar to NASCAR's, and the race on Saturday was the decider in a hotly contested circuit. WAY TO GO JAKE! (And look out, NASCAR...!)
We're celebrating our partnership with Jake and his amazing season this Saturday, September 27th with R.A.C.E. Day at HAWS. Meet Jake and take him on in Playstation if you've got the nerve - watch the hamster races - meet a retired racing greyhound - help us build our "brickyard" at HAWS and buy a tribute paver brick - win a prize by voting in our election race - adopt an animal and also win a prize in our pennant race - join in the "racy" fun.
R.A.C.E. with us - Rescue - Adopt - Care - Educate!
By the way - watch this space next week for an exciting announcement about our facility expansion campaign...
