Covelli family, Cafaro Foundation pledge $500,00 for animal center

STAFF REPORT

CHAMPION — The Covelli family and Cafaro Foundation have pledged $250,000 each to help fund the construction of a $6.6 million animal welfare and education center on Educational Highway near Kent State University Trumbull Campus.

They announced their donations Monday to the proposed Animal Welfare Care and Education Center.

In a press release, Caryn Covelli, whose husband, Sam Covelli, is president and chief executive officer of Covelli Enterprises, expressed her hope “that the initial gifts from [Phyllis] Cafaro and I will encourage other organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund-raising effort.”

Phyllis Cafaro is the wife of Anthony Cafaro, president of the Cafaro Co.

“This is the type of community resource that is sorely needed,” Phyllis Cafaro said. “It will improve the care of helpless pets that have been abandoned or neglected by their owners. Even more importantly, it will provide new opportunities for young people striving for careers as veterinarians, zoologists or veterinary technicians.”

The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County recently unveiled plans for the center, which would be built on eight acres of land owned by Trumbull County. The county commissioners have pledged to lease the land to the animal- welfare league for $1 per year, said Barbara Busco, animal-welfare league president.

The building would take be 25,000 square feet — more than double the size of the shelter the Trumbull County Animal Welfare League operates on Brunstetter Road in Lordstown.

“We believe this will be the first of its kind,” Busco said. “It will create a public/private partnership between the county, Trumbull Career and Technical Center and the Animal Welfare League.”

The new center would include state-of-the art features for providing veterinary care, the press release said.

Cost to build the center is $6.6 million.

The animal-welfare league is offering donors the chance to purchase “naming rights” for all or part of the facility to raise additional money.

“With sufficient private donations, we stand a good chance of accessing public grant money to help fund the project,” said Caryn Covelli, co-chair of the project along with Cindy D’Amico and veterinarian Rufus Sparks.

The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization that has served Trumbull County for nearly 40 years.

Tax-deductible contributions may be made by contacting the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County at (330) 394-3512.

The League’s fund-raising consultant, The Bentz Group, is also processing donations sent to its local office at 303 Washington St., NW, Warren, OH 44483 or by calling (330) 306-5743