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Mary Tan

Whisker Media

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Email: mary@whiskermedia.com

Giving Tuesday and its importance to diversifying the veterinary community

(Baltimore, MD. November 29, 2021) — Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity are trying to change the veterinary and animal welfare industry. One of the least diverse out of all fields in the United States, the numbers are staggering: only two percent of veterinarians in the United States are African American.

That’s why CARE is proud to announce on this Giving Tuesday that they will be giving almost $90,000 to veterinary schools across the nation named after Dr. Jodie G. Blackwell, a trailblazer in the veterinarian field and a civil rights activist. Pet ownership among BIPOC communities is similar to their Caucasian counterparts, yet so few people of color work in the veterinary and animal industry. The Dr. Jodie G. Blackwell Scholarship Fund will help to change that by awarding each school four scholarships to be dispersed to students in their first or second year of veterinary school.

The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is appreciative to be among the inaugural recipients of the Dr. Jodie G. Blackwell Scholarship Fund: Veterinary Educational Funds for African American Students, which is named in honor of their trailblazer alumnus. “Of the thousands of veterinarians in the United States, only two percent are African American, and we are proud that 70 percent of this number are our graduates,” said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college. “This intentional partnership with Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) contributes to TUCVM’s ability to sustain our proud legacy in training and educating underrepresented minorities and producing career-ready veterinarians prepared to make an impactful difference in the profession.”

Dr. ShaRonda Cooper, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine assistant dean for students, says, “Access and opportunity for our students are two things that come to mind when you think about the Dr. Blackwell Scholarship. This scholarship helps ease financial burdens, opens doors, and helps our students pursue their dreams. The scholarship also supports our diversity initiatives; all our students recognize the need for a rich and diverse environment and are hungry for the engagement that brings. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this scholarship program for African-American veterinary students.”

The scholarships couldn’t be a reality without the support of Maddie’s Fund, Tito’s Vodka for Dog People, and the Black DVM Network as well

Go to www.careawo.org to learn more or email one of CARE’s founders, Jen Evans, at  Jen@careawo.org for more specific details.

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Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity is a 501©3 nonprofit that addresses organizational and personal biases within animal welfare. The mission is to bring diverse voices to the industry while also advocating for a more inclusive path to pet adoption. CARE believes in using evidence-based tools, narratives, and insights to inspire organizations to be more inclusive and less biased. It is all an effort to save more companion animal lives.