PRESS RELEASE:
Founder of Pawtographs "Gail Kasper" Takes the Ms. Cont’l
America Crown and Heads to Capital Hill
On October 28, 2007, in Hartford, Connecticut,
born and raised Philly girl, Ms. Pennsylvania Gail Kasper was crowned
Ms. cont’l America 2007, a National pageant whose focus is “today’s
woman as today’s leader.” As a Motivational Strategist and Founder
of the charitable foundations, “Make a Decision to Win” and “Pawtographs,”
Gail has already taken action to make a difference in our country.
The Make a Decision to Win Foundation provides
Gail the opportunity to volunteer her time to empower adults and
students to find the greatness within themselves. She has supported
multiple organizations, including the United Way and the American
Cancer Society.
Gail has also founded Pawtographs, a foundation
where an animal raises money for its fellow rescues by signing their
paw print on a photograph and then selling the photograph. All money
raised from the sale of the photographs is donated to rescues across
the country. Though Gail’s two rescued Basset Hounds, Apollo and
Winslow, have spearheaded this project making appearances in New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and with anticipated dates in the Washington
DC area and New York City where Apollo and Winslow will take a bite
out of the Big Apple, any rescue across the country can sponsor
their own Pawtographs Fundraising event with their own “animal”
of choice. Pawtographs, in turn, will help them set up the event
and produce the pictures.
This concept was developed by Gail, who is currently owned by two
rescued Basset Hounds, Apollo and Winslow, after they participated
in the Tri-State Basset Rescue Olympics. Apollo won a 2006 Gold
Medalist and a 2007 Bronze Medal for the 10-meter relay and also
participated in the high jump. Winslow won a 2006 Silver Medalist
for the 15-meter hurdles and also participated in the Obstacle course.
Gail thought, “Since athletes sign photographs for money, why can’t
an animal also sign their paw print, raise money, and then donate
the money to rescues across the country.”
Gail Kasper is an international renowned Motivational Strategist,
author, the current Ms. Pennsylvania, and television personality
who regularly appears on ABC, FOX, CW11, and Comcast. “Each year,
between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats go into shelters and over
3 million of them are euthanized. America, we do have a problem
- a problem we can change.” Gail and her Bassets are determined
to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. This sparked
the idea of creating a National Animal Rescue Day where all of America
could be brought together toward a common goal, promoting Adoption,
Awareness, Education, and Financial Resources for rescues across
the country.
On October 3, 2007, Gail was able to convince Congressman Robert
Andrews to draft a Resolution to support National Animal Rescue
Day. “With a resolution now in place HSE #749, it is critical for
everyone to go to the website, www.pawtographs.org, where you will
find a link to contact your Congressman and support this issue.
“America must realize that this is a beginning and we need their
help. To take this to the next level, we need 70 Congressmen to
support our Resolution, and then ultimately, 270 Congressmen must
give a “yes” vote to pass the Bill,” states. Gail.
There are many goals with respect to Pawtographs and National Animal
Rescue Day. One major element includes education. There is an extraordinary
need for education both to the family adopting a pet and for the
shelter. When adopting, a family may want additional information
on behavioral training, should there be another dog or cats in the
home; and with respect to the shelter, it is all the more important
that they ask about these critical situations and plan for alternatives
should a challenge occur. Today’s need for education extends to
children as well as adults, as many do not appreciate “man’s best
friend” (as we’ve named him), but instead view them as a disposable
animal. We say this as the case with Michael Vick. Hence, National
Animal Rescue Day will support this need for education and open
the doorway to a brighter, more responsible future.
NATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE DAY shall,
along with Pawtographs™, create awareness, educate, increase animal
adoption, and increase financial support for animal rescues throughout
America.
