Helping Our Pets Cross the Rainbow Bridge at Home

SUGAR’S GIFT™ NEWS AND UPDATES…..

 JULY BONUS DAY IS FROM 10:00 AM EDT JULY 16, 2025 TO 10:00 AM EDT ON JULY 17, 2025!

 CHANGES TO GLOBAL GIVING’S BONUS FORMAT FOR 2025 (IT ISN’T THE SAME AS WE HAVE TOLD MANY OF YOU RECENTLY….PLEASE READ THIS AND LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS)

 JULY BONUS DAY IS COMING FROM 10:00 AM EDT JULY 16 TO 10:00 AM EDT ON JULY 17      (NOT 9:00 AM EDT AS IN YEARS PAST)

GOOD NEWS!  We are coming up on our biggest bonus event of the year starting at 10:00 am EDT July 16, 2025, and running for 24 hours until 10:00 am EDT on July 17, 2025,with GlobalGiving, our fundraising partner!  As some of you know, our biggest fundraising events annually are in July with GlobalGiving’s Bonus Day and toward the end of the year on Giving Tuesday.  We try very hard to raise a lot of funds on those 2 important days of the year.  So, we need your HELP!  We also have a special foundation, who wishes to remain anonymous, who believes in Sugar’s Gift™ so strongly that they are going to match 100% of all donations we receive from you on July 16 – yes, a 100% MATCH up to $15,000!  PLEASE donate whatever you can that day!

It is so important that you try to donate some amount during that 24-hour period– ANY AMOUNT FROM $100 OR MORE gives us incentive funds from GlobalGiving, as well as the 100% bonus.  But, that said, please give whatever you can, because everything will be matched 100%.  (So, 2 different bonus and matching structures – sorry if it is confusing.  We’ll try to explain below.)  The event is different for 2025:

• It is not as critical to give early – any donations received between 10:00 am EDT on Wed, July 16 through 10:00 EDT on Thurs, July 17 will qualify for the incentive funds and bonuses from GlobalGiving, and our 100% match from our wonderful foundation supporter. 
• The Incentive Funds from GlobalGiving work like this:

o   All donations of at least $100 and up to $1,000 will be eligible to receive a proportion of the Incentive Funds GlobalGiving has for all charities participating during that 24 hour period.  You are welcome to give more than $1,000, as well, as that can help us in the Bonus Prizes below.

o   There are also Bonus Prizes for those organizations who have the largest amount of donations, the most new donors and most repeat donors

o   It is not a percentage match as in years before (many of you remember the 30%, 40% and 50% bonuses).  But, this may benefit us tremendously – a lot of new donors are expected that day for us, as well as many of you who help us on this day each and every year.  We could get incentive funds and bonus funds!  Some of you want to donate more than $1,000 and please do – that help us in the bonus category!

• The Foundation who has generously offered to help us on our Bonus Day will match 100% of every dollar we receive that day up to $15,000 – that is pretty straightforward.  We need LOTS of donations from 10:00 am EDT on July 16 to 10:00 EDT on July 17!
• Donations MUST BE DONE on our GlobalGiving site during that 24-hour period to qualify.  You can use a debit card, credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, wire transfers, and other methods.  If you send us a check through the mail, that will not qualify for the onus Day, but there is a way to do a check online through GlobalGiving’s site.
• And, PLEASE unclick the "Anonymous" button (it defaults to being clicked) when you donate!  We won't know who you are unless you do!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

THE BOTTOM LINE:  JUST PLEASE DONATE SOMETHING TO US BETWEEN 10:00 AM EDT ON WED, JULY 16 AND 10:00 AM EDT ON THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025, IN ORDER TO HELP US RAISE LOTS OF MONEY THAT DAY!  YOUR DONATIONS ARE MATCHED AT 100%, DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR….AND POSSIBLY EVEN MORE!

(Don’t worry – you’ll get another reminder (or 2….or 3!) as we get closer….this is really, really important to us and those beloved pets we want to help!)

ONE MORE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY ON THE JULY 16-JULY 17 EVENT…

We have a special prize for one lucky donor that day!  Frankie Gonzalez, a renowned local artist who creates custom works of art from paintings on canvas, public and private murals and custom apparel in the entire Tampa Bay area, has donated a Pet Portrait for one of our donors for our July event!  Any of our supporters who donate $1,000 or more that day will be entered into a drawing for that special prize.  More on that in our reminders to you coming soon….see his artwork and all about Frankie at frankiegart.com.  His parents, Judy and Frank, lost their beloved Sir Riley this year and we helped him cross the Rainbow Bridge.  They are a special family indeed, and we are very honored that Frankie is donating his time and special artwork to one lucky supporter of Sugar’s Gift™!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Will You Please Help Us on JULY BONUS DAY??  We need you!

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW FOR MANY, MANY REASONS:

1. Our organization has expanded and grown in leaps and bounds this year, thanks to several things:
   1. We now have 4 wonderful veterinarians working with us in the Sarasota/Manatee County areas – we cover every square inch of both counties! 
   2. Thanks to Little Boy’s Legacy, we can now do same day/next day emergencies (same day most of the time unless it is an extremely urgent situation, then PLEASE take your pet to the ER)
   3. We are helping between 4-10 pets per week.  That is wonderful, but we need help in funding – we have never been able to help this many pets before!!
2. Our East Coast of Florida expansion of operations continues!  We have partnered with Safe Passages In Home Euthanasia and Pet Crematory in Indiantown to take our business to new heights on the East Coast and into Orlando!  We have 11 veterinarians able to service Jacksonville, FL through Homestead, FL as well as Orlando!  Your generous donations will be used to include that expansion, as well.  Safe Passages schedules our East Coast appointments, performs the cremations and delivers our urns and other items back in person to our pet owners.  They are wonderful and want to continue to grow with them!
3. We still work with Lifetime Veterinary Center and Dr. Dack in our Jupiter area – we love them and will always work with them, as well!  They schedule their own euthanasias in their office and return our urn and other items to each pet owner, as well. 
4. We have expanded to the Ft. Collins/Loveland, CO areas with our wonderful vet there, Dr. Emilea Burton, so you help will aid us in more euthanasias in CO, too.
5. Anyone in our services areas should call our office at 941-718-5066 and we are happy to discuss their particular situation with them.  We do not take requests through email, texts or through Facebook messenger.  We must speak with each pet owner directly.

NEWS ON GRANTS RECEIVED

 EXCITING NEWS – WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE RECEIVED A $25,000 GRANT FROM THE BISHOP PARKER FOUNDATION AGAIN THIS YEAR!

 We are so excited because we received $25,000 again this year!  We are so honored that The Bishop Parker Foundation in Bradenton believes in us and granted us $25,000 to help with our mission!  We give special thanks to Wendy, Keith and the SPCA for all their help, and the Board of Trustees hold a special place in our hearts.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!  Their funding will provide us the veterinary costs to help 50 more pets cross the Rainbow Bridge from home.  Wow!  We are still so happy to receive this generous grant and know that so many people will benefit from their funding.

 WE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GRANT FOR A TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE FOR PICKUPS AND DELIVERIES, AS WELL!

 We have been asking for help with funding for a vehicle for Sugar’s Gift™ and we finally received it!  We desperately need it and more news about that is coming soon….

 This need has increased even more because we have expanded....growing pains!  But we don't want to use donations for this need.  We want to keep our donations going toward our mission only!  So, Thank You to the Fassy Family Foundation for your help with the vehicle!

 WE ALSO RECEIVED A $3,000 GRANT FROM THE GOLISANO FOUNDATION

 A big thank you to Kaitlin and Monika for helping us get our foot in the door with the Golisano Foundation’s Trust, Bailey and Friends!  We “knew” Bailey, for whom this Trust is named before she passed away, and we were heartbroken when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  We look forward to a long relationship with this Foundation for many years to come!  Thank you so much for believing in us!

 AND, WE RECEIVED A $750 GRANT FROM THE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS VOLUNTEER FOUNDATION TO HELP A PET OWNER IN THE ORLANDO AREA

 Thank you to the Universal Studios Volunteer Foundation for contacting us and granting us $750 to help a pet owner in the Orlando area!  We intend to increase the number of pets that we help in Orlando and surrounding areas even more and we will serve your area well.

 THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR TEAM – AND WE ARE A TEAM!

 At Sugar’s Gift™, we have a very special team of people who work so well together in order to help your babies cross the Bridge peacefully from home.  I would like to highlight everyone who makes us the terrific organization we are!

• Dr. Sara Velic and Sara, her nurse – Dr. Velic volunteers her time to help Sugar’s Gift™, while still maintaining her position with The University Animal Clinic in Sarasota, FL.  Dr. Velic is amazing and she helps us in the evenings, weekends, and some day appointments as she is available.  Her clinic, The University Animal Clinic, is now spreading the word about our work and is a wonderful partner of ours.  Please visit them at https://www.theuniversityanimalclinic.com/

• Dr. Margaux Buchanan with Avalon Veterinary Services – Dr. Buchanan joined our team earlier this year when she started her in home euthanasia services.  She had a similar business where she lived in MA previously, and we are thrilled to have her on our team.  Dr. Buchanan is also a veterinarian with Sarasota Equine and has helped us with 2 horses we have helped crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  She helps us in the evenings and the weekends, and any days off from Sarasota Equine.  Please visit her on her Facebook Business Page for Avalon Veterinary Services LLC.

• Dr. Meredith Cronin with Dr. Meredith’s Veterinary In Home Euthanasia and Acupuncture – Dr. Meredith joined our team earlier this year when she contacted us!  She gave us lots of referrals, then decided she should see if we need help – boy, was she right!  She helps us 7 days a week, morning, afternoon and evenings.  She is very special and her love for animals is unsurpassed.  We are so lucky to have her on board, and please visit her at:  https://meredithdvm.com/

• Lori J lost her boy, Bravo in 2024, and offers to help us with transporting when we need it.  There are many instances when we do need extra help and Lori is there for us!  Thank you, Lori, for volunteering your services!

• Cheryl Brady and Vet Care Express – Cheryl and her own team are some of the most compassionate people on the planet….and everyone we have helped agree!  They are always there for us and the pets we help and we appreciate them so much!  Please visit them at:  https://www.vetcareexpress.com/

• Drs. Wendy and Kyle with Holistic Veterinary House Calls – our cherished veterinarians on the West Coast of Florida are our lifeblood!  Again, everyone we have helped certainly believe that, too.  We couldn’t be here without them!  Please visit them at:  https://www.drwendyying.com/dr_wendy_ying_holistic_vet.html

• Dr. Dack and the Lifetime Veterinary Center in Jupiter, FL – another incredible veterinarian that we are fortunate to have on board!  They help so many babies on the East Coast and we love them, too!  Please visit them at: https://www.lifetimevet.com/

• Dr. Emilea Burton of Western Skies End-of-Life Veterinary Center in Ft. Collins/Loveland, CO and surrounding areas – Dr. Burton contacted us through Dr. Kathleen Cooney in the Loveland area.  She joined our team in 2024 and we are limited in the number of pets we can help there because we need more funding for that area.  That said, we do as many as we can, and we want to do more!  She is incredible and we are lucky to have her on our team.  Please visit her at:  https://westernskiesvet.com/

• Safe Passages In Home Euthanasia and Pet Crematory on the East and West Coasts of Florida are special partners to us.  They go above and beyond for our pet owners, pets and us.  We are incredibly excited to be a partner with them for our in home euthanasias and their vets on the East Coast, as well as our expansion by using their crematory services on our West Coast.  Thank you so much to the Safe Passages team – Cristin, Justin, Matt and the other wonderful people on your staff – we couldn’t do this without you!  Please visit them at:  https://www.safepassagepetcremation.com/

• And, last but certainly not least – thank you Paula S, our Scheduling and Social Media Coordinator.  Many of you have spoken with Paula and understand her compassion for each of your individual situations.  She lost her Ollie earlier this year and contacted us because she wanted to give back and help all of you because she understands what you are going through.  We are so grateful to have Paula on our Team!

OUR MISSION – WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Our mission is always worth repeating:  Our mission is to provide euthanasia and end-of-life veterinary services for terminally ill pets in their own homes.  We at Sugar's Gift™ do not charge for any of our services to help your terminally ill baby.  Why?  Our mission from the beginning has been all about the Little Ones, not about how much money someone has.  We don't charge you on a sliding scale.  We don't charge you based on your income.  We believe this:  Every one of you who has a terminally ill pet has something in common with all of us - the love for our pets, our companions, our Little Angels and the need to have them pass in the most comfortable surroundings.  That is something sacred to us.  We share that love and respect you for that love, as well.  That is why we do not charge you for our services.  It is the last Gift you can give your baby, and it is Sugar's Gift™ to both of you.

CONSIDER A GOOGLE REVIEW FOR SUGAR’S GIFT™!

We haven’t asked for this in the past, but recently, several of you have given us wonderful reviews on Google – THANK YOU!  We hear nothing but positive feedback from all of you for our vets, our transportation, our office staff….but we did not realize how important reviews are weighted when prospective grantors are determining our value in the community.  So, if you haven’t done so, please consider that.  We would prefer not having reviews on Facebook because we get a lot of spammers doing reviews for weird products that have nothing to do with Sugar’s Gift™ on there.  Google Reviews is the way to go!  Go to maps.google.com and open the Google maps.  Seach for Sugar’s Gift™ and scroll down to the Review Summary section.  Click Write a Review – easy as pie!

KEEP US IN MIND FOR YOUR ESTATE PLANNING GIFTS!

Many people ask us if they can include Sugar’s Gift™ in their estate planning.  We are very appreciative of that gesture.  If you have a Will or a Trust and wish Sugar’s Gift™ to receive funding upon your demise, we thank you for thinking of us.  Your gifs will keep us sustainable for many years to come!  If you need help or have questions regarding this issue, please contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss options for you.

OUR PET OWNERS AND THEIR MESSAGES TO US….

Pet owners across this great country of ours describe Sugar’s Gift™ as “Bringing lasting peace to pets and their owners after a life full of love.”  We offer a life-changing experience...our services extend far beyond the time and scope of the services we provide for you and your pet. We are here as a resource, an ear or a shoulder to cry on, an organization that will always be here for you and your furbabies. Some of our pet owners have described our client care service as unsurpassed. Read some of our testimonials here.  

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND NEXT DOOR!

Thank you to all of you who have encouraged others to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and Next Door….we have increased our followers to over 1,900 as of today on Facebook.  We want to build even more Facebook Likes, so go here to Like Our Page and share this with your friends!

WHAT WE NEED NOW FROM YOU

1. Please consider helping us between 10:00 am EDT on July 16 and 10:00 am EDT on July 17, 2025, for JULY BONUS DAY!  Log in to our link here to help us with our largest matching event of the year!  Again, we have our wonderful anonymous foundation who will match 100% - dollar for dollar - of all money raised during that 24 hour period up to $15,000!  CLICK HERE TO DONATE
2. We are still getting calls in our Sarasota/Bradenton location at the rate of 10-20 pet owners per day to help their beloved pets cross the Rainbow Bridge from home.  And, now that we have opened up more locations, that number is increasing.  It is wonderful that we can help so many, but that takes funding.....so we need more generous souls like you to help us pay for the expenses of each euthanasia and cremation for all these Little Angels.  CLICK HERE TO DONATE
3. If you work for or with a Corporation or Foundation, let us know.  We would love to talk with them to form a partnership and help the Little Angels together.  It would also help to know if they match employees' donations. (We are happy to speak with your Human Resources Department, if you would like us to inquire about this for you)

1. We are looking to add experienced Members to our Board of Directors and to our Advisory Board.  If you are interested, or know of someone who is, please contact Nikki at 941-320-1524 or via email at nikkistewart@sugarsgift.org.  You must have experience on another Board of Directors, preferably with a non-profit organization.  There are other qualifications, but please email or call if you are interested.  We are accepting applications nationwide.

So, when we say every dollar counts…..EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.  CLICK HERE TO DONATE

REMEMBER….

Sugar’s Gift™ is the only non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization in the country whose mission is to help terminally ill pets cross over the Rainbow Bridge from home with comfort, dignity and peace. 

Please give generously.....monthly, annually, whatever suits your budget.  All the other Little Angels need us....and we need you.  Thank you.

We apologize, in advance, if you receive a duplicate of this report.  We are sending this through our email server, too, so you may get 2 of the same reports.  Just simply forward one to someone  you feel would like to read it!  Thank you.

Sugar’s Gift™….Because love never leaves.

Links:

• Our Home Page
• The Rainbow Bridge Poem
• How Do I Know It Is Time?