John and Christine Tortorella Thank Go Fund Me Donors

 Fans and friends rallied      around Coach Torts recently to show their support and admiration for him and the family’s love for animals:

Our family would like to thank everyone who made recent donations to the programs of our family foundation through Go Fund Me. This support means so much to us and it will help us, help those, who work tirelessly to try stop the suffering of animals. There is so much to do and those people and organizations, on the front lines of this compassionate passion, need the help of the community. And you’ve given it. We pledge to use 100% of every donation in the best way possible to help animals! It takes a team!! Thank you all! And special thanks to Amanda Meyers!

To learn more about what our family foundation has been doing with our rescue partners, please visit our website: www.tortorellafoundation.org, our facebook page: www.facebook.com/tortorellafoundation and view our year-end video for 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U453Qu2miE&feature=youtu.be

Again, thank you, we are deeply touched by the support and excited about how the fundswill help Bear’s Angels!

Warm regards,

John and Christine Tortorella

Diana’s Journey

Diana is thrilled to have a new life.

This past Wednesday, CBJ Coach John Tortorella and radio host Anthony Rothman of 97.1 The Fan, kicked off another season of their “Hockey and Hounds” broadcast by discussing the amazing journey of an abandoned dog from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The story illustrates perfectly the power of people working together to provide hope and help.

Aimee Broussard of Baton Rouge, LA found a starving, skinny, female pit bull beside a dumpster in August.  The dog’s teeth were broken and when she went to the bathroom, Aimee only saw mud. Aimee took the suffering animal to her local vet and named her “Diana”. The vet confirmed that Diana had probably broken her teeth when she bit her chain to free herself, and indeed, she had been eating dirt when there was nothing else to eat.  Aimee had Diana examined  and spayed by the veterinarian and boarded her for a few days while she searched for a suitable place for her.

The Rescue Road Trip Truck

When no appropriate rescue or shelter could take Diana, Aimee reached out to a friend of the Tortorella’s, Darlene Healy, in the hope that someone could help. John and Christine Tortorella learned of Diana’s plight and were determined to help her further. They contacted some of the rescues and shelters they knew and were thrilled when their Bear’s Angels Partner, the SPCA of Westchester, offered to take Diana. The SPCA is a no-kill, animal-care organization located in Briarcliff Manor, NY. With the help of the Tortorella Foundation, the SPCA provides additional training and TLC to dogs like Diana who require more attention and love on the road to adoption through their The Way Home Program.

Aimee Broussard and the truck driver who took Diana on her long journey.

Aimee secured a rescue transportation group – Rescue Road Trips located in Zainesville, OH who could take Diana on the long journey to New York from Baton Rouge.  When the rescue truck arrived in Brewster, NY,  Christine and friends John and Eve Ianuzzi  were waiting to take Diana to the SPCA.  Once there, Diana was met with good food, a warm bed and loving arms. “Princess Diana” is a staff and volunteer favorite. She is enrolled in The Way Home  and is a great pupil.

The Tortorella Foundation is grateful for all the loving hands who helped Diana along her journey and is especially proud to support the SPCA of Westchester’s The Way Home Program.

Safe and sound at the SPCA of Westchester.

Spotlight on Kindness – Grants 2019 – SAVE Ohio Pets/ Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue/Pike Pet Pals/Facilitate Rescue

SAVE Ohio Pets

The Tortorella Family Foundation (TFF) is proud to announce more grants for 2019 were awarded to the following organizations for their important and compassionate work in animal welfare. SAVE Ohio Pets is dedicated to reducing the homeless animal population in Central Ohio by providing spay/neuter and microchipping clinics.  TFF is sponsoring three spay/neuter clinics for SAVE Ohio Pets this year.

Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team

Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team   in Pennsylvania transports homeless and unwanted animals from one part of the country to another by air and land to help them find permanent homes. A grant from TFF is helping PAART purchase a new transport van to assist with their great mission.

                                                            TFF provided emergency grant to Pike Pet Pals of Waverly, Ohio to build permanent roofs for their kennels. Pike Pet Pals supports and assists the animals of Pike County Dog Pound.

Pike Pet Pal

Facilitate Rescue

Facilitate Rescue  of Clary, North Carolina was awarded a grant to spay and neuter cats pulled from Harnett County Shelter. Spay and neuter surgeries are one of the most effective ways to prevent unwanted litters and suffering on the part of homeless animals.

Please click on the highlighted links to learn more about these remarkable organizations.

Volunteers Come Together to Build Dog Houses

The strong hands and caring hearts of volunteers in the Columbus area have come together over several weekends this spring to construct dog houses for needy pups.

These sturdy, well-built homes will serve to keep canines warm in the frosty winter months and provide a safe haven throughout the year.

Materials and paints were donated by Lowe’s -Polaris Parkway. Elbow grease, talent and a generous desire to help animals in need were provided by: Cameron McLeod, Ian McLeod, Corbin McLeod, Yua Noshiro, Tyrone Russell, Rebecca Krumholz, John Harp, Jennifer Harp (of Bear’s Angels – Columbus), Melissa Zotek, Cathy Krumholtz, Anthony Rothman (of 97.1 The Fan Radio), Jamie McGann, Heath McKenzie and Amber McKenzie.  The Tortorella Family Foundation thanks each and every volunteer for providing such love and inspiration to us all. 

SWEEP! Columbus Blue Jackets Advance to Round Two of Playoffs!

The Columbus Blue Jackets completed a stunning sweep of number one-ranked Tampa Bay Lightning in four games of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Kudos to the CBJs as they advance to Round Two in their franchise’s first entry into playoff history!