David R. Valyo, ex-officio of the board of directors of the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, presents the Nonprofit of the Year Award to Sandra J. Thielz, president of the board of directors of the Chester County SPCA, at the Chamber’s Profile Awards Dinner on March 22 at The Desmond Hotel in Malvern. Mr. Valyo presented the award to the Chester County SPCA for “providing kindness, protection, love and care to thousands of animals, especially
those that are unwanted, unprotected and unloved.”

Non-Profit of The Year

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The Chester County SPCA has been named Nonprofit of the Year by the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Each year the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce honors, individuals, companies and organizations in our region for their unique accomplishments and valuable contributions to business, commerce and the community at large,” says Mary Ann Severance, president of the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“On behalf of the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, it is my pleasure to announce that the Chester County SPCA has been selected to receive the Nonprofit of the Year Award. We congratulate the Chester County SPCA on its outstanding contributions to the Great Valley region,” Ms. Severance says.

“All of us at the Chester County SPCA are thrilled and honored to be named Nonprofit of the Year,” says Susan B. Spackman, Chester County SPCA executive director. “It is always nice to be recognized, especially for the service we provide to the community on behalf of animals and people.”

The Nonprofit of the Year Award was presented to the Chester County SPCA at the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce 17th Annual Profile Awards Dinner on March 22 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Malvern. The evening began with a cocktail reception followed by dinner.

“Since its founding in 1929, the Chester County SPCA has provided kindness, protection, love and care to thousands of animals, especially those that are unwanted, unprotected and unloved,” Ms. Spackman says.

“ As the largest registered nonprofit animal welfare organization in Chester County, the Chester County SPCA’s pro-animal activities are widely emulated throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond, and our programs and services continue to grow,” she says.

In 2006, the Chester County SPCA received national attention when it rescued more than 330 dogs from a Chester County “puppy mill” and successfully prosecuted the owners on animal cruelty charges. Subsequently, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell proposed sweeping changes to the state’s dog law and related state regulations designed to improve the conditions under which dogs are bred and sold in Pennsylvania.

The Chester County SPCA offers a variety of programs and services including pet adoption programs, animal cruelty investigations, humane education programs, animal lost-and-found services, pet visitation programs, low-cost rabies vaccination clinics and dog obedience classes.

“ By updating our shelter facility, expanding animal health programs, promoting spaying and neutering, and offering a seven-day, 24-hour emergency animal ambulance service, the Chester County SPCA is improving the lives of thousands of animals and people,” Ms. Spackman says.

“ Because we are totally independent of any other animal welfare organization and do not receive any county, state or federal funding, the Chester County SPCA proactively solicits funding through foundations, corporations, individual donors and fund-raising events and activities,” she says. “As a result, the Chester County SPCA is able to rescue thousands of abused, neglected and abandoned animals and provides food, medicine and shelter for animals placed in our care.”