Upcoming Tucson events to benefit animal rescue groups

Beading Divas to the Rescue is spearheading the fundraiser to mark its 15-year anniversary; beneficiaries are Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption (SA Greys) and PAWSitively Cats No-Kill Shelter.

“We hit a huge milestone: We have raised $300,000 to help pets and wanted to celebrate. Monsoons, pizza and helping pets are a good combination that should make for a great Saturday,” said Lizzie Mead, founder of Beading Divas.

The local nonprofit came into being in 2009 after Mead, a huge animal lover, and her two beloved greyhounds were in a hit-and-run accident that resulted in $14,000 in emergency veterinary bills.

Friends, local greyhound rescue organizations and the community rallied to help Mead. To raise funds, Mead also created hand-made beaded bracelets with dangling greyhound charms to sell through her store, Silver Sea Jewelry on 4th Avenue.

“I had just opened my shop and had $400 in my checking account and I really needed to come up with money for the vet bill,” Mead said. “My friends were trying to get people to help, and I thought that I would rather give them something for helping. All I know how to do is jewelry, so I said, ‘Let’s do the bracelet thing.’ “

Her instincts were right on. The vet bill was paid off in six months and a philanthropic movement was in the making. The memory wire, stacked bracelets started being sold for $20 each.

“Once the bill was paid, we said ’Let’s sell bracelets to help two more dogs,’ and then one mored dog after that, and it has continued ever since. We realized that if people would buy bracelets to help my dogs, they would buy them to help other pets. Even though my dogs have passed on now, their love has lived on and helped so many dogs, cats and other wildlife,” said Mead, who has since become mom to Boris the Bronze, a rescue greyhound; and two goats, Frannie the Nanny and Captain Kidd.

Now Mead sells the memory wire, stacked bracelets for $20 each through her storefront, on Etsy and at Fuschia Spa La Encantada. Every two months, she and her 40 volunteers choose a different nonprofit organization as a beneficiary in “order to spread the love around.” They create the multi-stack bracelets utilizing any beads with holes, and can customize them with any color combinations and themes.

“They are fun and whimsical and add a lot to any look: You can can really dress up an outfit. People like layering stretchy bracelets, but the cord wears out, while memory wire is forever. If you break a bead, you can get it fixed at my store. I still have my first bracelet that I made 16 years ago,” said Mead.

Ultimately, Mead hopes the Beading Divas efforts will inspire others to use their talents and creativity to make an impact.

“It is not as difficult as you might think to do something to help. I always used to think that if someone was doing fundraisers, they knew all about it and had lot of money, but I know now that is not true. If everyone did just a little something for things they care about, it would be a totally different world,” Mead said.

Supporters of Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary (https://equinevoices.org/) echo that sentiment.

Over the past 20 years, the nonprofit has rescued more than 1,500 equines that were abandoned, abused, and used in drug smuggling and in the production of the drug Premarin. The sanctuary also saves wild Mustangs rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management, most recently two injured young mares. One gave birth to a foal in April.

The sanctuary, which has expanded to 25 acres in Amado, currently houses 53 horses, six burros and four mules.

“Our expenses run between $50,000 and $60,000 a month and one of the biggest expenses is hay and feed. Plus, half of our herd is over 20 years old, which is about 60 in human terms. Just as with people, animals develop health issues like arthritis, diabetes, and other conditions, so they require special feed, medications and veterinary care, which is also expensive,” said board member Diane Russell.

Russell said that a dedicated force of 100 volunteers hope to help raise at least $150,000 at the upcoming gala to ensure that the equines live out their lives in health and happiness.

“Animals can’t do anything for themselves, and when you think about it, they have done so much for us in this country. Horses go way back: They have worked on farms, provided transportation and helped to build this country. Now people want to toss them aside and we owe them more than that,” she said.