A little healthy competition goes a long way for animals in need – FFLW fundraiser story

A little competition can go a long way. For Gilberto Gandra, some healthy competition is what it took to be one of the top fundraisers for the 2017 Ontario SPCA Friends for Life! Walk™.

Gandra’s workplace was a corporate sponsor for the Ontario SPCA Provincial Education & Animal Centre’s walk, but they also had individual teams within their organization competing against each other to see which team could raise the most funds. He also says he asked the senior leadership at his work to match donations made from these individual teams.

“Matching donations is a great strategy,” he says, “You get more traction behind it when people give their own money.”

Right before the event, Gandra says he told friends he would match whatever they donated. This final ramp up period is what brought his fundraising amount up to over $3,000.

The walk itself was a great event, Gandra says, bringing together a group of like-minded people.

“Everyone there cared about the animals and the mission,” he says.

Gandra says anyone who has owned an animal and has experienced that special bond understands why it’s important to help animals in need..

“There are very few organizations that can do so many programs and focus on so many issues,” he says of the Ontario SPCA. “There are things that just won’t get done if the SPCA wasn’t doing them.”

To learn more about the Ontario SPCA Friends for Life! Walk™ and how you can get involved, visit friendsforlifewalk.ca