Matching Gift Event, September 21, 2016

Final update:

THANK YOU to the many generous supporters who collectively raised a grand total of ~$16,600 today, inclusive of matching funds from both GlobalGiving and the Pixie & Bella Challenge Grant.  That amount will pay for a tad less than two weeks of veterinary expenses to help our many birds become physically fit for permanent adoption.

Our Board of Director, our volunteers, and our birds all appreciate what you have done today.  Have a great evening, knowing you have made a difference in the lives of many.

8:25 pm update:

This will be our last update until we announce the final results. At this point, we have about $3100 left in the Pixie and Bella Challenge Grant funds. The Challenge Grant expires at 9 pm, so NOW is a great time to contribute, especially because of the 50% match rate. Give at this link - our many volunteers and the birds to which they open their hearts and homes thank you for your generosity.

6:30 pm update:

Thanks to some wonderful first-time and repeat donors, we have used about $280 of the Pixie and Bella Challenge Grant funds.  That means there's more than $3000 in matching funds left!  Help us use up these funds by donating here; remember, there's no dollar limit on this Challenge Grant's donations!

Did you know Mickaboo is the primary rescue for the iconic Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill?  When one of them falls ill and is rescued by either an individual or San Francisco Animal Care & Control, Mickaboo is who gets called to provide the love, attention, and medical assistance needed by these birds - sometimes for the rest of their lives. 

Beale and Monty are two such birds.  Both are disabled and would not survive being re-introduce to their native environment. They are in a foster home where they are extraordinarily happy, learning to step up, climb a wooden ladder, and follow their foster dad's targeting stick. Beale likes to hang by her beak from the cage bars and swing back and forth; Monty enjoys mimicking his dad's laughter and other sounds. 

Beale and Monty are truly darling birds who require very little maintenance. They are quiet aside from some morning and evening chatter, and their chatter comprises the same silly sounds of their wild brethren. They only require some mixed up veggies and some pellets for dinner. They love to come out of the cage and play, and can keep themselves entertained with toys while they're in the cage. Take a little piece of San Francisco into your home with these special birds!  Email us if you'd like to consider adopting them!

Help us help birds like Beale and Monty with their veterinary expenses - especially while this Challenge Grants lasts.  Give here; the Challenge ends at 9 pm PT.

4:25 PM NEWSFLASH!

The GlobalGiving matching gift funds have run out - and two generous supporters have stepped forward to continue the fundraising. Thanks to them, we have established the Pixie and Bella Challenge Grant with $3500 in challenge grant funds.  They will match YOUR donations at 50%, made through this link.  NO donation limits - give as much as you want!  And if you've already given through GlobalGiving and want to open your heart to further gifts to leverage this new challenge grant, that'll be ok too!

If you have not already given and meant to do so - now is a great time!  Here's the donation link.  Thank you again, from all of our volunteers and birds.

3:15 pm update:

We're almost there!  Because of the generosity of more than 50 of you, we have $14K of the $15K we wanted to raise today, to pay about a week's worth of our birds' veterinary expenses.

There's still more GlobalGiving matching funds (about $1500) to be had - jump in and join our donors here.  

At right is a picture of Bella, the budgie abandoned at the door of the vet clinic, meeting her friend in her new home. Awww!  We all wish each of our birds had such a happy ending to their rescue stories.

10:30 am update:

Thanks to your collective generosity, we are TWO-THIRDS of the way towards today's $15K fundraising goal.  

Here is another recent rescue - Bella, a budgie (aka parakeet) abandoned in front of a vet clinic on a SUNDAY (when the clinic is closed). After some preventive medical treatment, Bella was adopted into a fabulous forever home. 

Help us help birds like Bella and get ALL the way to our fundraising goal! Give here while GlobalGiving matching funds remain. There's just $14K in matching funds left!

9:00 am update:

GlobalGiving matching funds are available again!  Give here now before they run out! 

Fun bird care info: do you know how to read a bird's body language? Learn about it at Mickaboo's online library.

8:45 am update:

THANK YOU to the many people who got up at the crack of dawn to participate and have their donations matched by GlobalGiving's first $30,000 in matching funds.  

GlobalGiving is releasing $30,000 in matching funds TWICE today (Wednesday, 9/21/2016) - first at 3am PT/6am ET, and again at 9am PT/noon ET. That's two opportunities for you to make YOUR donations go further!  Our veterinary costs are now running $40-$50K/month, so your help at this time will be very appreciated!  Consider donating now (after 3 am PT) - it only takes a couple minutes to make a lifetime of difference for our birds.

Pixie is about 16 years old, and came to Mickaboo from a good Samaritan who had rescued her from an abusive home. Her wings don't open due to prior injuries and the way her tendons healed.  Her prior diet was terrible; as least partly due to that, her liver, kidneys, and pancreas now all have various issues.

Despite all of that, she is a sweet bird. She loves to cuddle and give eskimo kisses. While she generally does not like hands, she often surprises her foster dad and steps onto his hand from the floor, or climbs up his leg. She is great about going back in her cage. She cries in the night, but also often makes loud cooing sounds and other happy noises. She is good with kids and anyone who gives her treats or plays ball with her. 

* * *

Won't you consider helping Pixie and our many other foster birds with their medical bills?  Over 95% of your gifts goes to pay the vet bills for our 450+ birds.  Our fundraising goal today is $15,000, about a week's worth of medical costs. We invite you to watch this blog for updates throughout today about our fundraising progress. And we will also post snippets of birdie info along the way to keep things interesting.