In 1992, a man named Andrew walked into C.A.R.E., met a cat he named Zucchini and were best friends for over 19 years. After Zucchini passed, Andrew started the Zucchini Fund in order to subsidize adoption fees for C.A.R.E. cats who were harder to place because of age or health. 

Fast-forward to 2012, when Catherine Feuerstein met C.A.R.E. cat Mimi. Mimi was an older cat, and fractious in the shelter environment. Catherine decided to take a leap of faith and adopt her. Even though they were only together four years, it is time Catherine wouldn’t trade for anything. Mimi served as proof adopters should consider taking in older kitties, as they are wonderful beings, deserving of love.

After Mimi crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Catherine trial-adopted Precious, a six- year-old girl who had lived as a single cat for most of her life. Unfortunately, Precious and resident cat Abby were not meant to be roommates, so Precious came back to C.A.R.E. Remembering back to the Zucchini Fund, Catherine decided to pay it forward and subsidize Precious’ adoption fee, calling it the Mimi Fund. What a great way to honor Mimi, Zucchini and Precious.

Precious has now been adopted into a single-cat household, is loved and doing well. And—Precious’ adopter continued Zucchini’s legacy and ‘paid it forward’ by contributing toward the adoption fee of two more C.A.R.E. kitties, Ramona and Mendel. Ramona and Mendel were then adopted and the chain has continued!