Giving Challenge 2026
Be the One to Save a Life April 15, 2026 Noon – April 16, 2026 at Noon
Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare is proud to participate in the 2026 Giving Challenge, a 24-hour online giving event that helps local nonprofits make a lasting impact in our community.
During this special event, your generosity helps provide life-saving care, comfort, and hope to the animals at Manatee County Animal Welfare.
Double Your Impact
In celebration of the 10th iteration of the Giving Challenge, The Patterson Foundation will strengthen giving during the 2026 Giving Challenge with a 1:1 match on all unique donations between $25 and $100 per donor, per nonprofit organization — with no cap on the number of individual matches from unique donors a nonprofit organization can receive.
One donation can make twice the difference.
How Your Gift Helps Heal My Heart Campaign
Heartworm disease is serious, but treatable. Your donation helps fund treatment for heartworm-positive dogs entering the shelter, giving them a second chance at a healthy life.
Grace & Friends Medical Fund
Supports emergency and critical medical care for dogs and cats with treatable injuries and illnesses, improving their chances of adoption.
Slumber & Enrichment Fund
Provides shelter animals with beds, toys, and other enrichment items that bring comfort and reduce stress while they wait for their fur-ever homes.
Food for Ferals
Provides food for community caregivers who care for feral cat colonies throughout Manatee County.
Why It Matters
Every day, animals arrive at the shelter needing care, compassion, and a chance for a better future. Together, we change lives.
Your support helps provide:
Heartworm treatment
Emergency medical care
Beds and enrichment
Food for feral cat caregivers
#BeTheOne who helps a dog get heartworm treatment.
#BeTheOne who gives an injured animal medical care.
#BeTheOne who provides comfort, safety, and hope.
Share the Mission
Help us spread the word by sharing this page with your friends, family, and fellow animal lovers.
Follow. Share. Give. Save Lives.
#GivingChallenge2026
#BeTheOne
#FoMCAW
#DoubleYourImpact
#SaveLives
We work hand in hand with Manatee County Animal Welfare to enrich the lives of the shelter animals by raising funds to provide additional resources, medical care, and heartworm treatment.
OUR PROGRAMS
“Heal my Heart” is a fundraising program to ensure all dogs who come into Manatee County Animal Welfare who test positive for heartworm disease are able to receive treatment.
Heartworm disease is a serious illness that is easily prevented. Up to 1/3 of Manatee County shelter dogs have heartworm disease and YOUR generous donation will help pay for treatment for these dogs.
A primary element to our mission is to fund medical care for dogs and cats with serious, yet treatable health issues that will improve their chances of being adopted into fur-ever homes.
As part of our enrichment program, we believe every dog in the shelter deserves to have a soft place to lay their head and toys and treats while in their kennel. Your donations get dogs off concrete floors and enrichment items to mentally stimulate them while waiting for their fur-ever homes.
Our Food for Ferals Fund supports the feeding, care, and purchase of supplies for community cats in Manatee County. FoMCAW will work with Manatee County Animal Welfare and colony caregivers to provide food and supplies for feral feline colonies throughout the county.