50 Animal Shelters Begin $100K Challenge

The ASPCA has officially kicked off the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, a three-month competition where 50 animal shelters from across the country will work to increase adoptions in order to win a piece of the more than $500,000 in ASPCA prize grants, including a grand prize of $100,000.

Starting yesterday and continuing into the weekend, the contestants will hold special kick-off events around the country in an effort to get off to a strong start in the competition.

Many contestants are planning big adoption events, unique promotions and discounts on adoption fees, and more. To find a contestant near you, please visit http://challenge.aspcapro.org/contestants.

The ASPCA also will join the contestants and all of their supporters in tweeting with the unique hashtag #100KChallenge. The ASPCA encourages animal lovers to use #100KChallenge on Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word about adopting animals from shelters in the contest.

"We've been watching as the contestants gear up for events and get the most wonderful animals ready for adoption," said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA. "We can't wait to see the photos of all those happy families who will find their new best friends over the next three months. In this competition, everybody wins – especially the animals!"

The contestants will work to save at least 300 more cats and dogs during the months of August, September and October 2012 than they did during the same period in 2011.

The ASPCA and Rachael Ray will award a $100,000 grand prize to the shelter contestant that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during this three-month period. A second place prize of $25,000 will be awarded to the shelter with the second greatest increase in lives saved, and the contestant that does the best job of engaging its community members in helping to save more animals will win $25,000. Those organizations that do the best in their divisions will be eligible for between $5,000 and $40,000 in additional grants.

The ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a groundbreaking contest that challenges animal shelters across the country to come up with innovative ways to engage their communities and get more homeless cats and dogs into loving homes. For more information about the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, please visit www.aspca.org/100kchallenge.