As a founder of the Daniel P. Cosgrove Animal Shelter and Branford Compassion Club, Eunice Lasala has dedicated decades to the care and protection of animals. Now, her commitment has become the purpose of Branford Community Foundation's (BCF) new Lasala Family Fund for Animals.

A long-serving BCF board member and past president, Eunice has encouraged many to establish BCF legacy funds. Grants from funds help sustain BCF's mission to connect people who care with causes that matter for the purpose of preserving and promoting the quality of life in the Branford community now and for years to come.

"Anything people are interested in—whatever their passion is—they can go to Branford Community Foundation and a fund can be set up to their specific desires or needs," says Eunice.

With her final BCF term arriving in 2018, Eunice and her husband, Tony, set their own philanthropic goal: creating a fund for the care and humane protection of Branford animals (domestic, feral, or wild).

"I've always had a great love for any animal. I started the Branford Compassion Club 22 years ago because I was out there feeding feral cats and trapping them for neutering and vaccinations," Eunice explains. "Right about the time we became a non-profit, we petitioned the First Selectman because we needed an animal shelter in town. We gathered the facts he wanted, raised $150,000 for a matching grant, and opened the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. With Laura Burban as director, it's become one of the state's best municipal shelters."

The Lasalas elected to endow their fund through BCF's "build-a-fund" option. The option allows donors five years to reach a $10,000 milestone, creating a perfect opportunity for family and friends to contribute as birthday, holiday, or other special occasion gifts. In just a few months, contributions to the Lasala Family Fund have exceeded $14,375. BCF will start providing funding in 2019 as grant awards, according to BCF Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra.

"I'm very excited," says Eunice. "I feel very fortunate to have friends, and very fortunate to have been part of the Branford Community Foundation. It's such a wonderful organization, and it's becoming better-known for helping Branford, thanks to Liza Janssen Petra, our Executive Director, and all the board members. They are wonderful people of enormous integrity."

For more information on starting your own fund or contributing to a fund, email or call Liza Janssen Petra, BCF Executive Director, at 203.444.4898 today.