Humane Society of West Michigan Experiences Record Breaking Attendance at Fundraiser

Submitted by Megan Susterich on Monday, April 10th, 1:06 pm

Recently, Humane Society of West Michigan (HSWM) celebrated record breaking attendance at their annual Paws, Claws & Corks fundraiser, an event featuring fine wines and microbrews, tastes of Grand Rapids’ best restaurants and both live and silent auctions. More than 850 animal lovers attended the event at DeVos Place in Downtown Grand Rapids, helping HSWM exceed $200,000 in donations.

Every year, HSWM places thousands of animals into forever homes. The recent donations will enable HSWM to continue to promote the humane treatment and responsible care of animals in the communities the organization is privileged to serve.

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West Michigan Armed Forces Thanksgiving Luncheon to Pay Tribute to United Sates Military Members

Submitted by Megan Susterich on Friday, March 24th, 1:52 pm

Students from across West Michigan are joining area business leaders to celebrate local members of the Armed Forces – past, present and future – during the 2nd Annual West Michigan Armed Forces Thanksgiving Appreciation Luncheon at the JW Marriott in Downtown Grand Rapids on Friday, May 5th. Military members will be in attendance for this event aimed at strengthening awareness and dialogue on the contributions our military personnel have made and continue to make on behalf of their families, their friends and their country.

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Submitted by Cheri Mikowski, WZZM Receptionist & Community Blogger

Monday, February 20th, 2017, 3:32pm

Special Event on March 1 – The Solar Eclipse of 2017

The public is invited to this special presentation to prepare for the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.

Across a wide area of the United States, there has not been a total eclipse of the sun, since 1970. This summer, we will experience total darkness for possibly 2 minutes and 40 seconds within a 70 mile radius on August 21, 2017.

Dave DeBruyn and George Lessens will give a presentation on Wednesday March 1, 2017 from 7:30pm – 9:00pm called “Where to Go and What to See” taking place at the Grand Rapids Public Museum located at 272 Pearl Street NW in Grand Rapids. This presentation will give the public useful knowledge during this special August event.

Visit www.graaa.org for more information.

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Submitted by Cheri Mikowski, WZZM Receptionist & Community Blogger

Thursday, February 16th, 2017, 5:09pm

The Grand Rapids Public Library invites the public to celebrate African American month with a fun-filled Sunday afternoon.

This celebration showcases African American history, art, music and FOOD from 1:00pm - 4:30pm. Bring your family for this free popular event at on Sunday, February 19 at the Main Library located at 111 Library Street NE in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Call: (616)988-5400 or visit: www.grpl.org/tasteofsoul for more information.

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Submitted by Cheri Mikowski, WZZM Receptionist & Community Blogger

Friday, February 3rd, 2017, 5:24pm

Catholic Charities of West Michigan welcome your presence to Pietro’s through February 2017 for this Fundraiser!

For a fresh, homemade and local lunch or dinner, patrons have the opportunity to enjoy a delightful trip to Pietro’s Soup Bar. Chef Jevon Reno’s, 3 Signature Soups made from scratch daily are a tasty break you won’t want to miss!

Throughout the month of February, a donation of $1.00 from each soup bar purchase ($2.99 each) will benefit Catholic Charities. Give Catholic Charities a helping hand with the enjoyment of the “Best Soup in Town”

Pietro’s is located at 2780 Birchcrest, SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan, off 28th Street, one block West of Breton Avenue.

Call: (616)452-3228 or visit www.pietrosGR.com for more information.

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Humane Society of West Michigan Places Record-Setting Number of Pets in Forever Homes in 2016

Submitted by Megan Susterich on Thursday, January 19th, 2:56 pm

With a new year underway, the Humane Society of West Michigan (HSWM) is looking back and celebrating another successful year. In 2016, HSWM helped more than 3,700 animals find their forever homes – a record-setting number for the organization.

The new record surpasses the more than 3,000 adoptions that took place in 2015. The increase in adoptions can be attributed to community support of adopting shelter animals, families embracing multiple shelter animals, and the variety of ages and breeds of animals up for adoption at HSWM.

“We cannot thank our team of staff and volunteers, as well as our generous donors, enough for another successful year,” said Trudy Jeffers, Executive Director of HSWM. “They are the backbone of our organization and we are blessed to have them assist HSWM with saving lives, raising awareness and educating the community.”

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3 Things to Consider Before Gifting a Pet this Holiday Season

Submitted by Megan Susterich on Monday, December 12th, 5:17 pm

For many people, young and old alike, a pet for Christmas is the top desire for the season. For a long time, it was assumed that pets as gifts were a really bad idea, increasing adopted animals being returned to the shelter after the excitement of the holidays is over. Data supports just the opposite.

“It’s a myth,” states Trudy Jeffers, Executive Director of HSWM, “that giving a pet as a gift is a bad idea. In fact, with the right research, identifying the needs of the new pet, and knowing the person you are gifting to, helps make the right decision for both the pet and the person.”

A 2013 study by Dr. Emily Weiss says, “There is no increased risk of relinquishment for dogs and cats received as a gift.” In her research, Dr. Weiss found that over 87% of the pet owners in the study still had their pet in their home or had kept the pet in their home for the pet’s lifetime, even when the pet was given as a surprise or a gift, according to the ASPCA.