Community Connections
Advocacy and philanthropy have always been an intrinsic part of our personal life, and here at
Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections we strive to nurture the essence of community by being of service with many free resources for the spiritual path; however, as our own platform has grown, we're excited to provide assistance where needed in new and expanded ways.
Community Connections is a new section of our website that highlights charitable organizations to help uplift and enrich the lives of others in tangible ways while continuing to build awareness. As often as possible, we'll feature one of our favorite organizations with information for support.
See Our Current Community Connection!
Previously Featured Organizations
(Note: Susan/Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections has no affiliation with these organizations outside of participating in fundraising events
or contributing through SDSC reading special fundraising campaigns.)
October 2024
In late-September 2024, the Southeastern United States was devastatingly impacted by Hurricane Helene, displacing people from their homes and dislocating animals from their families. The needs for these states' recovery efforts are many, and we want to help in even just a small way.
We chose Best Friends Animal Society to receive these funds for a number of reasons: as we have personally contributed to their non-profit for close to a decade, they are an organization we trust and believe in. Additionally, they have emergency response teams actively working now to support animal shelter and rescue groups in these states. You can read more about their efforts here: Best Friends' Response to Hurricane Helene
Best Friends Animal Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been in operation for forty years. From their website: "Best Friends Animal Society is a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. To help Save Them All, Best Friends works with shelters, rescue groups and our members nationwide."
Thanks to everyone who participated in our October Fundraiser Reading Special, we raised $200 for Best Friends Animal Society!
Thank you for helping us help animals in need!
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April - October 2024
As big animal lovers ourselves, it is our absolute honor to introduce PAWS of PA, a 501(c)3 no-kill animal rescue dedicated to saving the lives of companion animals through adoption and foster programs and educational efforts. Founded in 1979, PAWS (Preservation of Animal Welfare & Safety) offers resources and programs to combat animal homelessness in south-central Pennsylvania. With a primary focus on cats and kittens, PAWS works with local municipalities using their TNR (trap, neuter, and return) program to stop the growth of feral cat colonies and end over-population. Since January alone, 77 cats and kittens were adopted, with 200 going through the TNR program.
For the past two years, SDSC has happily donated free tarot readings to the PAWS of PA Comedy Night Silent Auction.
This April, we kicked things up a notch with our first fundraising reading special! Readings were offered at a special rate as part of our own contribution towards PAWS with a portion of the proceeds for each reading being donated to PAWS as part of a fundraising campaign.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our April Fundraiser Reading Special, we raised $400 for PAWS of PA!
Thank you for helping us help animals in need.
January - March
Our first featured Community Connections organization of the new year is one that is fairly personal and dear to my heart. I met the owner of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary through a writer's platform nearly a decade ago, and we quickly became friends through a shared love of books and writing and a compassion and advocacy for animals. Melanie and her husband, Jim, have provided a safe haven for abused and neglected horses (and other animals) for thirty years. Their open hearts and generous nature reaches not only the animals whose lives they touch, but the humans who have the joy of encountering them as well.
Years ago, Melanie and Jim took in a horse named Pearl who was emaciated from abuse and neglect, and the gravity of her situation left her with an uncertain future. At the time, I was in the depths of my own experience with illness and losing hope. I kept vigil over posts of Pearl, my heart reaching out across the distance in gratitude for Melanie and Jim and in constant prayer for Pearl. Pearl not only survived, but she thrived in Proud Spirit's care; she gave me the will to do the same. Pearl's story is similar to the hundreds of horses Melanie and Jim have cared for over the decades and the over fifty horses who live in freedom at Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary today.
At Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, the horses are never stalled. As per the Proud Spirit mission, "They function as a herd with no cross fencing, safe in companionship of other horses. They have room to move about and to graze and roam...which they need to thrive."
Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary has no paid staff, as one hundred percent of donations go directly to equine care, including: hay, feed, vet bills, hoof trimming, equine dentistry, and more. Particularly during the winter months, hay supply is priority. Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose deductions are tax-deductible.
Want a fun way to support Proud Spirit? Get Melanie's books! Melanie has written multiple books about Proud Spirit as well as an award-winning middle-grade novel, Liberty Biscuit. All profits from the sale of her books go toward care of the horses at Proud Spirit and continued rescue work.
Learn more about the animals of Proud Spirit and how to support them at
Disclaimers
Highlighted charitable organizations have been vetted by GuideStar and are listed as 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. Selected organizations for our Community Connections page are typically smaller organizations that may assist persons or animals in need. Information provided is for awareness purposes only. Susan and Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections have no professional affiliation with any of the featured organizations and does not and will not accept donations on their behalf. While the purpose of this page is to bring awareness to and encourage the support of these organizations, please consider your own personal due-diligence when donating.
Fundraiser Specials are conducted as part of Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections' general services in which a portion of the proceeds from each regularly-priced reading is donated to the featured charitable organization on behalf of Susan Dawn/Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections. Fundraiser Specials are part of our commitment to advocacy and philanthropy.
Disclosure: As a Lyme disease survivor and advocate for patients and caregivers with chronic illness, Susan is the founder of the non-profit organization, LymeBrave Foundation. To maintain a sense of ethical integrity in separation of Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections, LymeBrave Foundation will not be a featured charitable organization as part of Susan Dawn Spiritual Connections' Community Connections. However, for those who wish to learn more about Lyme disease or who wish to support LymeBrave Foundation and its work, please visit here: LymeBrave Foundation.