Agricultural News
Pfizer Animal Health and Partners Donate $890,870 to Youth Programs
Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:23:57 CDT
Contributions from Pfizer Animal Health and participating veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dealers continue to grow in support of FFA programs and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation - Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarships. This spring's contribution of $890,870 brings the total amount donated through the Pfizer Animal Health FFA/AABP support program to more than $3.6 million since its inception in 2008.
The rebate on select Pfizer Animal Health cattle products purchased from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2011, grabbed attention all across the country. Participating veterinarians and retail partners were able to direct the funds from a portion of their purchases to any local FFA chapter(s) or the AABP Foundation - Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund.
As a result, more than 1130 FFA chapters from 46 states received $799,590 to help support activities in 2011 alone, while the AABP Foundation Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund received $91,280 this year. This support translates into a real difference in the lives of veterinary and FFA students.
"The Pfizer Animal Health support has allowed me to place less focus on job placement for financial reasons and more on what I would like to do," says Dael Householder, DVM, and former AABP Foundation - Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund recipient. "As I have started practice, I've learned that Pfizer continues to educate producers and their employees in the industry. Their educational support expands educational opportunities at all levels - from producers to vet students."
For FFA chapters, support from their local veterinarians and animal health suppliers funds all types of chapter activities, from travel to state conventions to developing scholarship funds. Jim Orr, vocational education director at Los Banos High School, Los Banos, Calif., was excited about providing additional opportunities to the Los Banos FFA students as a result of the $10,472 donation they received through the program.
"We are using the donation to set up a scholarship fund for students that have spent three years in our agriculture program with at least a 3.0 grade point average in their agriculture courses, and at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average," Orr says. "We want to give every student the opportunity extend their education and Pfizer Animal Health is helping us do that. It is a difference of keeping students involved in education - the impact may make the difference for a student to afford an additional year of college."
The support of local veterinary clinics, animal health suppliers and dealers in this program demonstrates a grassroots dedication to agriculture.
"Each and every veterinary clinic retailer and animal-health distributor that we have the chance to work with understands the growing importance of supporting tomorrow's agricultural leaders," says Julian Garcia, marketing group director, Pfizer Animal Health. "It is an honor to be a link in the support system for not only our partners, but the organizations that are at the very heart of our industry."
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