HENRY COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — The SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County has received a $39,169 grant from the Louise R. Lester Foundation to support its work saving homeless companion animals in Henry County and Martinsville.

The grant allowed the SPCA to purchase a rescue transport vehicle, which will be used to carry animals and supplies to and from fundraising and off-site adoption events, transport animals from the two municipal pounds it serves, and meet rescue partners in areas with higher adoption demand.

The SPCA is a nonprofit that provides humane services and education, supports municipal animal control operations, and partners with organizations to benefit residents and their companion animals.

Since 1974, it has saved more than 40,000 animal lives and performed over 7,000 spay and neuter surgeries since opening the Louise R. Lester Spay & Neuter Clinic in 2021.

“The Louise R. Lester Foundation has been instrumental in helping us open and sustain our clinic and now has provided us with a transport vehicle to save more lives and better serve the community. We are beyond grateful for the foundation’s continued support of our mission,” said Catherine Gupton, chief operating officer of the SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County.

Founded in 2001, the Louise R. Lester Foundation supports nonprofit religious, scientific, literary, humanitarian and educational organizations in the greater Roanoke Valley, Smith Mountain Lake and Henry County areas.

“Our investments in the SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County continue Louise Robertson Lester’s compassionate advocacy in the community where she lived and worked,” said BJ Robertson, executive director of the Louise R. Lester Foundation. “Our partnership with the SPCA upholds the foundational work Mrs. Lester achieved during her lifetime.”

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