Couple's pledge encouraging donations to Humane Society

Monday, February 4, 2013
Karen and Charlie Cooper of Greencastle and their dog Zoe want all homeless pets in Putnam County to have a loving home. To help make that a reality, they have initiated the "New Beginnings for Homeless Pets" endowment with the Putnam County Community Foundation.

The Putnam County Community Foundation and the Humane Society of Putnam County announce that Charlie and Karen Cooper of Greencastle have agreed to match donations -- dollar for dollar -- to a new endowment to further ongoing and new efforts to increase adoptions of homeless pets in Putnam County.

The new endowment, "New Beginnings for Homeless Pets," is designed to give the Humane Society of Putnam County flexibility to accomplish this goal through promotions, and specifically will support expenses related to the transportation of homeless pets to other communities where there is a shortage of adoptable pets.

"We are getting very close to being ready to reopen the shelter," Lynn Bohmer, president of the Humane Society of Putnam County, said. "Having an endowment that will specifically support adoption efforts in perpetuity is one of the important pieces of our long-term stability."

Karen S. (VanArsdall) Cooper taught in the Greencastle Community Schools for 37 years before her retirement.

Charles A. Cooper was employed by IBM Corp. until the company closed its Greencastle location. He became a broker and opened Coldwell Banker Putnam Real Estate Center. The couple also continues to own and manage apartments and self-storage facilities.

"We have been looking for a long time to do something to help someone," Charlie said. "We both love dogs and cats."

Anyone may contribute to the Cooper Endowment providing "New Beginnings for Homeless Pets" in honor or in memory of a special person or pet.

Contributions to the endowment are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law, and are matched dollar for dollar.

Checks may be made payable to the Putnam County Community Foundation with "New Beginnings" in the memo, and mailed to 2 S. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN 46135, or online at www.pcfoundation.org.

Community Foundation staff members are available to help donors make gifts of cash, stock, retirement assets, life insurance, bequests, real estate and other types of gifts.

The Putnam County Community Foundation has been entrusted with more than 230 funds and endowments for donors, supporting a variety of charitable purposes. To learn how to start your own endowment, visit www.pcfoundation.org or contact the office at 653-4978.

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  • Now, if only someone could do the same for the homeless people in the surrounding area.

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Mon, Feb 4, 2013, at 8:38 PM
  • Good for the Coopers, their kindness is an inspiration!

    -- Posted by DEPAUW11 on Tue, Feb 5, 2013, at 11:09 AM
  • Domesticated animals can't help themselves. Humans can.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Thu, Feb 7, 2013, at 12:03 PM
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