Animal Welfare Association Executive Director Departing after a decade of saving lives

Voorhees, NJ (November 28, 2021) – After a decade of tireless work to further AWA’s mission and vision, Maya Richmond has announced that she will be departing from her role as Executive Director.

During her tenure, Maya has been the driving force behind AWA’s growth and success as an organization. A brief sample of her many accomplishments include:

~ Designing and overseeing construction oversight of AWA’s new Adoption and Education Center slated to open in late 2021.

~ Spearheading the construction of the Public Pet Clinic in 2013.

~ Creating the Vets on Wheels program to provide veterinary outreach in the City of Camden, NJ.

~ Partnering with other agencies like Bancroft and Kingsway or VNA to launch programs designed to help people and pets.

~ Leading and raising 100% of AWA’s first capital campaign for $2,500,000 for the new building.

~ Facilitating over 27,000 adoptions and 96,000 spays/neuters.

Maya’s vision and leadership will be greatly missed by the board, staff, volunteers, donors, and nonprofit partners alike. “In 2009 the board felt fortunate Maya accepted the position because of her business and program experience; however, we now know how very fortunate her hiring has been for the entire AWA community,” states Jonathan Furlow, AWA’s Board President.

Her passion, skills and drive elevated AWA’s services and programs. She worked with foundations and donors to grow support to fund significant expansion of our programs while simultaneously building the foundation for the AWA we have today which is physically manifested in the new Adoption and Education Center. “When she started, we had a few thousand donors, twenty staff and adopted and spayed/neutered a few thousand animals a year operating on a budget of just over one million dollars,” states Jim Miles, AWA board treasurer and member for twenty-five years. “Today the operating budget is over three million dollars. Annually, over eight thousand animals are adopted, seen at the Pet Clinic, or kept in their homes through pet safety net programs. And nearly 3,000 people take part in one of AWA’s humane education or public training workshops.”

“I speak for the entire staff when I say we have learned so much under her leadership and her love of learning. We all wish her the best and hope she returns to visit,” says Nanci Urban Shelter Services Manager. Ms. Richmond will work part-time until the new building is open and the animals are in their new home. The board is conducting a national search for AWA’s next Executive Director.

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About The Animal Welfare Association:

AWA is South Jersey’s oldest private, non-profit, 501(c)3 animal welfare organization. Through a variety of programs including adoptions, veterinary services, pet therapy, and humane education, AWA is dedicated to eliminating animal suffering, promoting the importance of the human-animal bond, and improving the role of animals in the well-being of people. In 2020 over 6,000 pets were served through AWA’s No-Kill programming. In early 2022 AWA will open a modern 25,000 sq. ft. Adoption and Community Center to expand its services in South Jersey.

Photo caption: AWA’s new shelter being constructed and is scheduled to open for animal adoptions mid-December.