No Kill Lehigh Valley Wins $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant

It’s a celebratory time for local pets and their owners.

After of voting, No Kill Lehigh Valley is the winner of a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant.

“It’s such a relief, I can’t even tell you,” said Diane Davison, president of No Kill Lehigh Valley.  “It’s very exciting.”

According to Davison, voting ended at 12:01 a.m. Feb. and the top 10 “Good Ideas” were the winners of $50,000 each.  In what amounted to the online voting equivalent of a nail-biter, No Kill Lehigh Valley just made it in the top 10, finishing in 10^th place.

Martha Kahan, president of No Nonsense Neutering in Allentown, which works closely with No Kill Lehigh Valley, was equally excited.

“Isn’t that great?” she asked, adding later that the win “hasn’t even sunk in yet.”

No Kill Lehigh Valley is a local group that provides funding for the spaying and neutering of companion animals for people who can't afford care.

Kahan explained that the money will be divided between several needs, including $20,000 for veterinary needs, $27,000 for spay/neuter services, and $3,000 for promotional expenses.

“The reason why Diane set aside $3,000 for promotional expenses is because it’s so hard to reach the people that need to be reached,” Kahan said.  “We have to find ways to blanket the lower income zip code areas with information so they know that we can help them.”

According to Davison, she must send in final paperwork before the money will be received.  Half of the grant will be sent to No Kill Lehigh Valley on Feb. 28 and the remaining amount will be sent to the group in six months.

For Kahan, the No Kill Lehigh Valley cause was worth the “emotional rollercoaster” of voting and waiting.

“I think what’s really exciting about this is that a lot of people look at their pets as family members,” she said.  “Yes, the spay and neuter services is a part of it, but we can now offer other veterinary care.  This money will keep pets in homes.”