FOCUS: Charleston Animal Society celebrates 146 years

Blackbaud received Charleston Animal Society’s Community Ambassador Award at the Society’s 146th Annual Meeting. Blackbaud President & CEO Mike Gianoni and his wife Kathie are surrounded by Charleston Animal Society Board Members and staff (L-R) Patricia Henley, Joe Elmore, Laurel Greer, Carolyn Murray, and Hank Greer.

Staff reports  | The Charleston Animal Society celebrated 146 years of preventing cruelty to animals on Jan. 26 at Blackbaud World Headquarters.  Before hundreds of supporters, the Animal Society gave away two significant awards:

• The Community Ambassador Award went to Blackbaud, Inc.
• The Elizabeth Bradham Humanitarian Award went to Dr. Shirley McGreal, the founder of the International Primate Protection League (IPPL).

Brabham presents award to McGreal, right.

Blackbaud software is used by thousands of nonprofits around the globe. Blackbaud was honored by Charleston Animal Society for building a better community for all of us and showing compassion for animals through their actions. 

Among its many supportive actions for animals, Blackbaud sponsored and helped build a fence for a family’s dogs on Edisto Island, through Charleston Animal Society’s Pets for Life Program last summer. Pets for Life is an outreach program in urban and rural areas of Charleston. More than a dozen volunteers from Blackbaud participated in the fence build. Also, the President and CEO of Blackbaud, Mike Gianoni, and his wife Kathie, starred in an advocacy video for Charleston Animal Society, promoting the adoption of Pit bulls, the most endangered breed of dogs in shelters across the country.

This year Charleston Animal Society also awarded its Elizabeth Bradham Humanitarian Award to Dr. Shirley McGreal, the founder of the International Primate Protection League (IPPL). Founded in 1973, IPPL opened its doors as the only Gibbon sanctuary in North America in Summerville, 40 miles west of Charleston. 

These “smallest apes” are rescued from medical labs, zoos and other situations – and brought to safety at IPPL. There are currently 34 Gibbons living in safety and solitude on 40 acres, provided by Dr. McGreal. She has received several international honors for her work with Gibbons, including the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II.

“I’ve been to Buckingham Palace but being recognized in your own backyard is so special,” McGreal said about receiving the honor from Charleston Animal Society.