A UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION

Animals bring meaning to human life. People find pleasure and connection in the enthusiasm, kindness and affection that animals give freely. For 30 years, PAL has used this special bond between animals and humans to make a unique contribution in solving challenging societal needs.

HISTORY

Throughout his career, Dr. Earl Strimple, a Washington, D.C. veterinarian, witnessed the bond between animals and humans and saw the benefits it gave to families. Eager to explore other ways that society could benefit from the power of the human-animal bond, he founded PAL in 1982.

St. Francis Center is a center for healing and its founder, Rev. Willam Wendt, also witnessed the remarkable ability of pets to ease grief. PAL's pilot program at the St. Francis Center brought comfort to the newly bereaved, and as time passed, this effort expanded to additional sites and became the PAL Pet Visit Program.

Another early effort at Lorton Prison offered the prisoners the chance to be responsible cat owners. The offenders found healing in their own lives as they increased their compassion and empathy through loving their pets. One of the incarcerated men told Dr. Strimple he thought something like this might help his children back home in D.C. to avoid some of the mistakes he had made. In response, PAL Club was created and now offers year-round afterschool and summer enrichment to lower-income children living in Southeast D.C.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Earl O. Strimple, D.V.M.
Founder & Chair
Veterinarian (retired)

Washington, DC Delegate
American Veterinarian Medical Association

C. Madison (Brick) Brewer, Esq.
President
Highsaw, Mahoney & Clarke, P.C.

Robert Rosenbaum, M.D.

Neurosurgeon

National Naval Medical Center

Sheldon Ray
Senior Portfolio Manager
International Wealth Specialist
Global Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley

Carlin Rankin
Vice President
Real Estate Management
Pet Visit Group Leader

Toni Billingslea
Administrator (Retired)
Pet Visiting Group Leader

Dawn Mancuso
Chief Executive Officer

Hydrocephalus Association

Monica Boner
Director
Sector Group

Joan Bristol
Consultant

Financial Planning

Julia Ashley
Manager of Nonprofit Programs and Learning
American Society of Association Executives

Donnie Shaw
Director of Community Relations
YMCA National Capital

Evan Gottfried
Audit Manager/Senior Manager
Reznick Group, P.C.

Denise Velasquez

Director, Emerging Channels

Giftango

ANNUAL REPORTS AND AUDITS

2010 Annual Report (pdf)
2009 Audit (pdf)

is a registered trademark of People Animals Love, Inc.