Come On, Ilene! Come On Over to NYC, That Is!

After putting out a call for the Community Leader of 2008—the animal enthusiast who carried out the most inventive, effective ideas for going orange on ASPCA Day—we finally found our lady. Pennsylvania mom and shelter volunteer Ilene Wellner created an orange campaign that sent such a ripple through her community that Philadelphia’s NBC affiliate, NBC10 News, was on the scene to cover her final “Go Orange for Animals” events.




Ilene’s multifaceted grassroots campaign started with her own personal network of friends, whom she called to action on the days leading up to April 10. During that time she organized a towel and blanket drive and a bake sale and bagel benefit, staffed by children and adult volunteers wearing orange ASPCA gear. She sent out hundreds of flyers and more than a thousand emails encouraging community members to donate much-needed supplies, to attend fundraising events and to wear orange on ASPCA Day. Ilene’s ASPCA Day orchestrations culminated with celebrations at two schools, where happy orange-clad students were taught about kindness to animals and were visited by even happier adopted dogs. When one student was asked what he had learned on ASPCA Day, he replied, “I learned to always be kind to animals and not buy a pet in a pet store.” All supplies and funds generated by Ilene’s campaign were brought to local shelters and the ASPCA, and her efforts inspired an outpouring of donations that are still coming in.

Community Leader Contest winner Ilene Wellner with her daughter, Samantha, ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres, and Melissa Treuman, ASPCA Manager of Community Relations

So, now for the good part. What did she win? We brought Ilene and her young daughter, Samantha, to New York City for a three-day/two-night trip to visit the ASPCA’s headquarters, including a guided tour of our newly renovated, state-of-the-art adoption center, an opportunity to meet and get photographed with ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement officer Annemarie Lucas ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres.

Here’s what Ilene has to say about her trip:

"I loved my visit to the ASPCA and meeting all of the wonderful and dedicated people who work there! It felt great to be surrounded by people who have the same passion that I do about animal welfare. I really enjoyed touring your facility, seeing the Meet Your Match program at work and experiencing the feeling that the staff genuinely cares about the work they are doing, all contributing to a very good and important worthy cause. I was impressed by the way the adoptable animals are housed and cared for. Loving photography as well as animals, viewing the spectacular photographs of the animals who have found their families was moving and motivating. Meeting Ed, Annemarie and Melissa was the best! Having the opportunity to exchange stories and ideas to implement in the future with them was the highlight. I hope that this is just the beginning for me with the ASPCA. I want to continue contributing to the growth and success of your very important mission. Before this week, the website was the face of your organization to me (which I think is GREAT), but now I feel the heart of what's behind it! If you were to ask my daughter what the highlight of her trip was, she would say meeting Annemarie, who is her new idol--and the pear tart with vanilla ice cream she had for lunch! You guys are terrific!"

Back at ya, Ilene! Thank you for inspiring us and so many others.