Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, California 94598

Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Walnut Creek, California. ARF rescues dogs and cats from public shelters where they would otherwise be euthanized and adopts them into new homes, and runs programs to strengthen the bond between humans and animals for the elderly, children, patients in hospitals, veterans and disadvantaged. Features a spay and neuter facility, animal care staff visiting, community education programs and programs to help low-income pet guardians struggling to keep their pets at home.

The ARF trigger came during a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees in May 1990, when a stray cat walked to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum playground. Fearful of the crowd's roar, the frightened feline stumbled, eluding umpires and players. La Russa (then manager of the A) coaxed the cat into the dugout, secured her safety for the rest of the game, and took responsibility for placing her in a shelter.

Tony and his wife Elaine learned there was no single no-kill shelter in San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay area and the cat would be euthanized. The La Russas found a home for her and were inspired to co-found ARF with a mission to bring together people and animals to enrich each other's lives.

Mission:

People Rescuing Animals...Animals Rescuing People.

Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) is an award-winning, nationally recognized pioneer for its groundbreaking "People Rescue Animals... Animals Rescue People" campaign. "Founded in 1991, ARF has rescued over 42,000 cats and dogs and expanded its national outreach and education programs. ARF elevates our society's livestock, strengthens interactions and transforms the relationship between humans and animals.

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, ARF is a privately funded 501(c)(3) non-profit organization without government funding and supported by individuals in all 50 states and around the world. For the 12th consecutive year 2019, ARF received the highest possible ranking-four stars-from Charity Navigator. Just 1% of charities hit this goal, and ARF is proud that 85 cents of each dollar goes directly to its programs.

Core Values

• Open
• Driven
• Educator's spirit

Strategic Anchors

• Save lives
• Inspire learning
• Connect hearts