Sponer: Give Them Ten
My Furry Valentine is proudly sponsored by Give Them Ten. Since 2013 the Give Them Ten menvement has set out to change how we treat cats in our communities – and thanks to the generous backing of the Joanie Bernard Foundations, it’s doing just that.
Why “Ten”?
We’ve all heard the old saying that cats have nine lives. Give Them Ten takes than idea and gives it hope: “Together, we can give them one more.” Because when we spay or neuter cats, when we foster and adopt, when we build awareness around community cats, we give them not just nine lives, but ten.
The Mission
At its core, the movement believes: a better world for cats -> fewer homeless cats and kittens -> fewer overcrowded shleters => more lives saves.
Give Them Ten focuses on three key pillars:
- Spay/Neuter: The most humane and effective way to manage feline overpopulation
- Foster & Adopt: Making sure cats aren’t just surviving, but thriving in homes or safe community environments.
- Community Cats & Outreach: Including Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, public education, and working with shelters and clinics.
The Roots
The Joanie Bernard Foundation, created to honor the passion and work of Joanie and Jeanne Bernard, established Give Them Tiem as a way to amplify feline welfare beyond one-off grants. By shifting the focus from shelter fundraising alone toward root-causes (overpopulation, lack of spay/nueter, etc.), the movement has helped raise live-release rates in the Greater Cincinnati area from about 37% in 2013 to over 95% in recent years.
What They’ve Done & Are Doing
- Mascot & Campaign: Meet “Scooter the Neutered Cat” – first launched in 2013 to raise awareness with a fun, friendly voice. You can even meet Scooter the Neutered Cat during the My Furry Valentine Event as he makes multiple appearances on both days!
- Partnerships: Working with local shleters, rescues, clinics, and community cat programs across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky.
- Research & Innovation: The foundation helped fund a study on nonsurgical contraceptives for cats, showing a commitment to evolving solutions.
- Brand & Expansion: The brand guidelines show how the movement build a recognizable visual identity and is expanding into new regions.
Why This Matters To Us
As a proud sponsor of our event, the Joanie Bernard Foundation & Give Them Ten share our vision of “every animal deserves a chance”. Their work embodies that by tackling systematic issues, so that shelter overcrowding, euthanasia due to lack or space or resources, and unmanaged feline populations become things of the past.
By supporting them, you’re not just helping one cat, your’re helping many. You’re helping a whole community of cats live healthier, safer, fuller lives.
How You Can Ge Involved
- Adopt or Foster: If you’re ready, consider making a cat part of your family or home.
- Spay/Neuter Your Pets: If you haven’t yet, this one act can make a huge difference.
- Volunteer or Donate: Many community-cat and shelter efforts rely on hands and hearts.
- Share the Story: Use your platforms to amplify the movement. Tag #GiveThemTen, tell friends, show your support.
Special thanks to the Joanie Bernard Foundation for making this work possible and the Give Them Ten for all they do.