Bideawee

A Special Night on Broadway with the Fantasicks benefiting Bideawee

New York, NewYork, September 29, 2009 -- As part of a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary as the longest-running musical in the world, The Fantasticks will present “Night of 1,000 Luisas,” a benefit concert featuring performers that have played Luisa, the musical’s ingénue role, from every decade since the show opened in 1960. The one-time event will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at 7:00 PM at The Snapple Theater Center’s Jerry Orbach Theater located on West 50th and Broadway. . . .

Read the entire Bideawee Night of 1,000 Luisas press release. (PDF, 85KB)

Bideawee, which means “stay awhile” in Scottish, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected pet adoption and animal welfare organizations. Founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora Kibbe, Bideawee has been providing shelter, care and compassion to homeless animals for over 100 years.

Bideawee’s mission is to promote and support safe, loving, long-term relationships between individuals and companion animals by providing a continuum of services and programs that are innovative, personalized and of the highest quality.

Bideawee is a not-for-profit 501( c ) 3 humane organization and 100% of Bideawee’s funding comes from private sources. For more information visit: www.bideawee.org

The Official Shelter of the show is Bideawee, a long established and respected shelter right in Manhattan with low cost spay and neuter and veterinary care along with the adoption center. There are two other Bideawee locations, one in Westhampton which is also a shelter with further services and another Bideawee in Wantagh which is where their renowned Pet Memorial Park is located.

Bidawee Fact Sheet

Bideawee, which means “stay awhile,” in Scottish, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected animal pet adoption and animal welfare organizations. Founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora Kibbe, Bideawee has been providing shelter, care and compassion to homeless animals for over 100 years serving New York metropolitan and Long Island communities.

Bideawee operates three locations in New York: Manhattan, Wantagh and Westhampton. Bideawee is home to approximately 350 to 500 animals at any given time and places thousands of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in loving homes annually. Bideawee sheltered animals receive thorough medical examinations, and are spayed/neutered and micro-chipped before approved for adoption. Dogs receive basic obedience training and each animal enjoys one-on-one personal attention while in our care.

Bideawee programs and services include:

Veterinary Practice is offered to private pet clients in its Manhattan and Westhampton Centers. Bideawee houses two full-service veterinary practices, providing affordable, high quality medical care to the Bideawee sheltered dogs and cats, as well as serving the general public. Through our Veterinary Medical Assistance Fund (VMAF), Bideawee is able to offer medical care to homeless, abused and injured animals. Hours of operation for pet owners are posted on the Bideawee website.

Pet Memorial Parks located at the Wantagh and Westhampton sites are the final resting place for thousands of cherished pets, including “Checkers,” the Nixon family pet, among others. Burial and cremation services are offered on the grounds, as well as the opportunity for pet owners to benefit from free bereavement counseling upon the loss of a beloved pet. Bideawee’s Pet Memorial Parks are amongst two of the largest and oldest in the country, serving the burial needs of adoring pet owners well beyond the organization’s area presence.

Pet Therapy, launched in 1982, is one of Bideawee’s most distinctive programs, having grown to engage a dedicated team of pet therapy volunteers, who travel throughout the area with their 168 dogs, 8 cats, 3 rabbits and one 230 lb. black pig.

Regularly, these volunteers reach out to offer pet therapy services by visiting senior citizen centers, heathcare facilities, schools and youth centers throughout New York.

Volunteer Programs enjoy the support of individuals of all ages who offer their time in various ways, by walking sheltered dogs to participating in on-site pet therapy visits. Over 300 volunteers dedicate their time in teaching the public through humane animal education programs.

Reading to Dogs program expands our pet therapy services by working with children to help improve reading skills, while fostering a love of animals. The intent of this initiative is to provide a relaxed atmosphere where children that find reading a challenge can read aloud to a compassionate dog. Similar programs nationwide have discovered that reading to a dog creates an environment that is unique and fun, and reinforces the message that reading can be enjoyable and worthwhile.

Humane Education is at the very foundation of the Bideawee mission. Educational tours are offered at the Bideawee Centers, and experienced professionals serve as representatives speaking on behalf of humane animal welfare by visiting schools, libraries, and club meetings of varying size and at diverse locations. Bideawee Learning Centers, active in all three locations, provide a wide range of educational programs and activities that help strengthen the bond between individuals and their pets.

Professional Training for dogs and cats is available through group training classes or private tutoring sessions. Training programs focus on behavioral issues and instruction, and include games and activities that strive to promote productive, healthy relationships between the owner and his or her pet.

Bideawee is a not-for-profit 501( c ) 3 humane organization and 100 percent of Bideawee funding is derived solely from private donations.