Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors is always proud to support and recognize meaningful community connections that promote our magazine’s mission of Bringing People Together. This month, we are pleased to highlight one of our loyal Sponsors, Rafferty Subaru, and their community partnership with Providence Animal Center.
Providence Animal Center (PAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Media, serves our community by offering exceptional, affordable and life-affirming rescue, adoption, medical care and training of companion animals. They recently celebrated their 10th year as a lifesaving organization serving as a community resource, inspiring others to embrace the human-animal bond.
Kevin Rafferty, Owner of Rafferty Subaru, explained how the partnership came to be. “Our team at Rafferty Subaru has consistently been committed to supporting local schools and organizations for the past 46 years,” he said. “We are always looking for ways to help promote worthy causes.” Kevin
said that he likes to keep it local while searching for partnerships. “65% of our Subaru sales come from the residents of Delaware County, so we knew that is where we needed to focus.”
The perfect opportunity presented itself in 2017 when the folks from PAC approached Rafferty Subaru in the hopes of forging connections that might qualify them for national grants from Subaru. Kevin said that while considering the partnership, they discovered that over half of Subaru owners also owned dogs. “It was a perfect match,” he explained.
Robyn Schnieders is PAC’s Chief Advancement Officer. “In 2018, PAC and Rafferty Subaru formalized their relationship and began working together to advocate for homeless pets and pet adoption programs,” she said. “Little did we realize then that this collaboration would evolve into one of our most impactful corporate partnerships on both the local and national levels.”
Robyn explained that the support from Rafferty Subaru has been instrumental in championing PAC’s mission and vision to ensure that all animals have a home with the love and quality care they deserve. Kevin and his team regularly host animal adoption events at Rafferty Subaru’s showroom in Edgmont and sponsor and promote the Rafferty Rescue Pet of the Week. That campaign has been running for close to five years and has a 100% success rate in finding these pets their forever homes. “We work together to pinpoint what PAC needs most and do our best to provide that,” Kevin said. “I am very proud that Rafferty Subaru was also able to donate a Subaru Outback (The Rafferty Rescue Vehicle) to this deserving organization.”
Kevin O’Kane handles Rafferty Subaru’s advertising and marketing efforts. He works directly with the team at PAC to organize and manage these special pet adoption events. “It really is a seamless partnership,” he remarked. “I cannot say enough about how well we work together and how the folks at PAC are organized, professional and passionate about what they do.” During these adoption events, many of the animals find their forever homes and bring our community together in the spirit of volunteerism. That includes WMMR radio, which has joined its efforts to promote the events
and make special appearances during the events.
Kevin Rafferty said that many staff members have adopted a pet, and he and his family have as well. “Our five-year-old rescue pup, Layla, has been a wonderful addition to our family,” he said. “Volunteering our time and resources has given us all much more joy than we ever expected.”
On a national level, Robyn explained that Kevin and his team have integrated PAC into the ASPCA/Subaru collaboration. “We have received national visibility through commercials, Super Bowl Sunday’s Puppy Bowl, and impactful grant opportunities,” she said. “And our affiliation with Subaru and the Philadelphia Union further exemplifies Kevin and Rafferty Subaru’s commitment to positioning PAC as a significant change-maker in the community and advancing our lifesaving cause.”
“It’s a win-win,” Kevin said. “We look forward to many more years of partnership with PAC and encourage our local community to learn more and get involved.” Robyn said that she and her team at PAC are equally grateful. “PAC is grateful for the support, collaboration and friendship of Rafferty Subaru and their dedication to advocating for homeless pets in search of their forever homes,” she said. “Their unwavering commitment to our organization is appreciated, and we eagerly anticipate the ongoing development of this partnership.”
Providence Animal Center is located at 555 Sandy Bank Rd, Media. To learn more about Rafferty Subaru and Providence Animal Center Adoption Events and the Rafferty Rescue of the Week, visit www.ProvidenceAC.org or call 610-566-4575.