Earlier this year, we established the William A. Harrison Jr. Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit. Our mission is to identify unaddressed needs and support innovative solutions that will contribute to the betterment of the community.  After considerable research, our first major project will support animal welfare.

Pets are the main source of companionship for many people. It has been heart-rending to learn how many seniors living right here in the Richmond area are forced to relinquish their pets due to economic hardships. The cost of even basic pet care can be too much for someone on a fixed income. 

Richmond is one of the few cities of its size that does not have a retail thrift store as an animal charity.  We are changing that. As our first established program, our thrift store will create sustainable revenue, raising funds for animal care organizations. 

Our research into the market and meetings with leaders of animal care non-profits has helped us understand numerous ways that we can help.

When the store opens in February, sales will support grants to non-profits already doing the work of feral colony management, animal rescue and low-cost spay/neuter clinics. We will be a hub for the animal care community, connecting resources with needs, housing a pet food pantry where people can donate and receive, hosting pet adoptions and free pet care classes. 

We will fund vet tech scholarships and provide humane traps and vaccination clinics. These are just a few examples of the work we will do, with your support. We will also supply pro bono social media direction for smaller animal non-profits to assist them in explaining their services and in raising much needed funds. 

While we have already collected significant inventory, purchased a truck for pick-ups and deliveries and have secured a store location, right now we need “seed funding” to help get our venture off the ground.