The Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is pleased to announce its 2025 grants, awarding a total of $90,500 to companion animal (dogs, cats, and horses) nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of animals and the humans they touch in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, and Walker counties.
Since 2011, the Remy Fund has awarded over $739,000 in grants, and the amount in 2025 is the largest in its 15-year history.
The Remy Fund for pets and animal services is a special field of interest Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. The Remy Fund was established by Birmingham area community volunteer, animal lover, and philanthropist Ken Jackson to honor the memory of his dog, Remy. Jackson shares, “Remy had such a positive impact on my life. She was always there to comfort and support me, especially during the passing of my parents.” Jackson is also the donor of Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park.
The Remy Fund is supported by many generous donors, including significant donations from VPFunds, the Diane and Warren Ferguson Fund for Animals, the Jean K. Forman Fund for Animal Welfare, and the Anne Knight Townsend Fund for the Welfare of Animals.
Organizations receiving grants this year:
- Alabama Spay/Neuter, $10,000, for the Remy SNIP program, providing low cost spay/neuter surgeries, reducing the number of unwanted animals in our community.
- Greater Birmingham Humane Society, $10,000, for Project Pet Safe, which assists pet owners who may be unable to afford care for their animals due to life changes or emergencies.
- Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue, $10,000, to cover veterinary care for ill cats that require specialized care.
- Shelby Humane Society, $10,000, to cover spay and neuter surgeries through the Fix-a-Bull Program and provide a small bag of food and pet supplies to program participants.
- Walker County Humane Society, $10,000, to provide spay and neuter resources in Walker County.
- Hand in Paw, Inc, $7,500, for the “Sit, Stay, Read!” program, which supports struggling readers in-classroom through animal-assisted education.
- Rescuers United for Furbabies (RUFF), $6,500, to support their new maternity cottage, which will house pregnant/nursing mothers and their pups in a more easily maintained and less stressful environment.
- Animal Shelter of Pell City, Inc. $6,000, to provide low-cost spay/neuter certificates through the SNAP program
- Sugarbelle Foundation, $6,000, to further the mission of keeping pets and people together by providing comprehensive medical care, safe shelter, and training/evaluations to pet owners in need, and for spay/neuter services.
- Special Equestrians, $5,500, to provide comprehensive care for horses in their animal-assisted equine therapy program.
- The Red Barn Foundation, $5,500, for their therapeutic riding and equine assisted therapy to individuals with disabilities especially those in families with limited resources.
- Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO), $3,500, for the Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program, which provides food and services for pets of HIV positive individuals who require financial assistance.
The Remy Fund Grant Committee conducts in-depth reviews of all grant applicants, including virtual and in-person site visits with applicants. The Remy Fund Grant Committee members include Debra Linton (Chair), Cathy Adams, Bert Gaddis DVM, Sheryl Kimerling, Murphy Lynch DVM, Maggie McDonald, Isabel Rubio, Cameron Vowell, and Laura Wainwright. Ken Jackson serves as an ex-officio member of the Committee.
Learn more about the Remy Fund
The 2026 grant cycle for the Remy Fund will open for applications Monday, March 16, 2026, and will close Thursday, April 30, 2026.
For more information about grants, contact Meg Ford at mford@cfbham.org.
Media Contact: Kiwi Lanier, (205) 327-3811, klanier@cfbham.org