As many of you know, I am a passionate animal lover and deeply involved in the cat rescue community. I primarily work with Pets Bring Joy as an adoption coordinator, but last year I rescued a kitty named Wahoo outside of the rescue—and that moment sparked something bigger.

From that experience, UnderCats was born.

UnderCats are the cats who often have little to no chance of rescue otherwise. They come from many different and difficult situations: outdoor community cats, hoarding cases, owner neglect, or shelters where time and options are quickly running out. These are the cats who fall through the cracks of the traditional rescue system.

Over the past year, I’ve been privately raising funds to get these cats the care they desperately need. I haven’t established a formal 501(c)(3) nonprofit—creating a board of directors, filing taxes, and managing all of that structure is a lot to take on. Quite honestly, my focus is simple: help the UnderCats who would otherwise be left behind.

This work is truly a labor of love—and I certainly don’t do it alone. It takes a village, because the need is endless. Lori Rolnick and Tamari Ramishvili are absolute superstar champions in this effort, and I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside them. Together, we are constantly finding ways to raise funds to give these deserving kitties a second chance.

As I turn 51 this week, I’ve set a personal goal to raise $5,100 to support our team of UnderCats champions so we can continue this important, life-saving work.

Thank you for being part of our village and for helping us give the UnderCats the chance they deserve.