Driven to Give: The Humane Society for Hamilton County

Every animal deserves a chance, and Driven to Give helps make that possible.

As Driven to Give approaches on Saturday, October 24th, we're continuing to feature the charities that will benefit from the generosity of the Indianapolis automotive community. This week: the Humane Society for Hamilton County.

There's something you should know about this organization right away, because it sets them apart. The Humane Society for Hamilton County is one of very few open-admission, truly no-kill shelters in the country, and the only one of its kind in Indiana. "Open-admission" means they take every animal that comes to them. "No-kill" means they don't give up on any of them. Put those two together and you have a genuinely remarkable commitment: every animal deserves a chance to live, love, and be loved, regardless of age, breed, medical needs, or disability.

It's harder than it sounds, and it costs more than most people realize. Living up to that promise means funding medical care for animals who arrive in the worst conditions imaginable, and rescuing hundreds each year from kill shelters elsewhere in the state. Programs like their Survivor Program and Pets Healing Vets, which pairs rescued animals with veterans facing PTSD or TBI, show just how far their mission reaches, into the lives of both animals and people.

That's exactly the kind of work Driven to Give is built to support. Through the generosity of Turner Woodard and the Woodard Van Riper Family Foundation, each driver's entry fee is matched and donated to their chosen charity. And as a poker run, the top three hands earn an additional $6,000, $4,000, or $2,000 toward those drivers' causes. A great day of driving turns directly into lives saved.

We're proud to help support the Humane Society for Hamilton County, and the second chances they make possible every day.