History

The Beginning – The 1980’s – The 1990’s – The 21st Century

The Beginning

Marian’s Dream (initially known as The Marian Rosenthal Foundation) was begun in 1981 as a memorial to Marian Rosenthal by members of her family. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity, Marian’s Dream has reached out to the public, in order to help donors help animals in impactful and long lasting ways.

From the beginning, the focus of Marian’s Dream has been to

  • Determine needs
  • Develop Solutions
  • Direct Resources
  • Deliver Sustainability

All four elements were there from the beginning in the early years, when Marian’s Dream primarily loaned small grassroots organizations funds for projects they could not otherwise afford to do. The loans were made with no interest expected, and based on an honor system.

During the next two decades, Marian’s Dream branched out to create its own successful programs.

The 1980’s: Focus on Animals

 

Determining the Need: The next phase of Marian’s Dream began in the late 1980’s, when there was a need for wide-reaching humane education programs. This was of course before the internet, and programs that could reach into classrooms around the world seemed like an impossible dream.

Developing Solutions: Undaunted, Marian’s Dream saw a solution and helped to fund, produce, coordinate, promote and disseminate videos on various animal issues such as hunting, animal research and overpopulation.

The first video documentary was called A Voice in the Wilderness; it featured Luke Dommer, founder and director of The Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting. Luke was a colorful and wise character, and when powerful images were paired with the strong points he made, the effect was electric. The documentary won the Gold Award at the Festival of the Americas in 1987 under the category of Adult Documentaries.

The next video produced was A Medical Turning Point, sponsored by the New England Anti-Vivisection Society, featuring Dr. Henry Heimlich, Dr. John McDougall, and Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine. The documentary was narrated by Lew Ayers.

The next two documentaries, about cat/dog overpopulation, were funded by the ASPCA. Throwaways, and its Spanish counterpart, Rechazados, were widely acclaimed and through a separate grant were sent to 5000 schools nationwide along with a teaching guide and poster.

Directing Resources: As a result of this video activity, Focus on Animals was formed as a program of Marian’s Dream. Under this program, over 70 videos and films focusing on animal issues were made available at a reasonable cost to interested parties, schools and television stations nationwide. Thousands of groups and individuals were able to use these materials for education about animal issues.

Delivering Sustainability: In the mid-90’s, Focus on Animals was acquired by the National Humane Education Society, which runs it to this day.

The 1990’s: SPAY/USA

Determining the Need: In the late eighties, hugely excessive numbers of young and healthy cats/dogs, kittens and pups were being killed in shelters nationwide for lack of homes – 12,000,000 annually. One reason: lack of access to reasonably priced spay/neuter surgeries. This was a problem nationwide.

Developing Solutions: Again undaunted with the huge task ahead, Marian’s Dream began the process of working toward a solution by contacting one veterinarian, explaining the crisis and negotiating reduced rates.

Directing Resources: In 1990, this modest beginning resulted in a new program for Marian’s Dream, called SPAY/USA, an information center with a toll-free number (1-800-248-SPAY). This program promoted and facilitated affordable spay/neuter services all across the United States. Marian’s Dream located and publicized existing low cost spay/neuter programs and helped negotiate the start of hundreds of discounted programs and clinics.

Delivering Sustainability: In the mid-90′s, SPAY/USA became a program of North Shore Animal League, which expanded operations by hiring staff and computerizing the operation. From that one veterinarian in 1990, the program has grown to one that works with more than 7,000 veterinarians throughout the country. The program has become a real force in the animal protection field, with referrals not only to private veterinary practices, but also more than 1000 low-cost clinics and programs nationwide. SPAY/USA has conducted regional and national conferences, and responded to invitations to share information at conferences from Istanbul to Costa Rica to Hong Kong. Shelter euthanasias by 2003 were down to 4.3 million annually in the USA, thanks in no small part to SPAY/USA and the initial leadership shown by Marian’s Dream.

The 21st Century

Programs that Marian’s Dream started and brought to maturity are now successful programs of other organizations, fulfilling the Marian’s Dream mission of delivering sustainability. While still developing a few programs of its own, the charity now primarily has returned to its roots: finding and growing grassroots organizations by funding their key projects.

We know there are many small groups throughout the country who, with a bit of help and encouragement, can achieve much. Often a grant of $10,000 is enough to start a process of matching and getting more grants until the program is launched. We have had feedback from many groups that the seed money from Marian’s Dream was what gave the people the courage and the energy to proceed, and to do amazing things. See our Past Grants to read of these successes.

A generous boost to this effort to fund more grassroot groups came in the form of a substantial gift from the parents of Marian Rosenthal in the late 1990’s.

We are now seeking donors to build on this gift, to enable us to give far more in the future. There are not enough foundations or public charities that give to small, animal protection projects. Yet history has shown that these very groups are those that have been most successful in bringing about innovations such as mobile spay/neuter clinics and high volume/high quality/low cost spay/neuter stationary clinics.

Won’t you join us in making a difference in cities and towns across the country!? Please see A Dozen Ways to Make Dreams Come True.