Amigos de la SHC
Durante años, la Sociedad Humanitaria de Cozumel había querido formar una organización caritativa deducible de impuestos en Estados Unidos para que las donaciones de ciudadanos americanos pudieran ser deducibles de impuestos. En diciembre de 2010, dos voluntarias que nos han apoyado desde hace mucho tiempo; Valerie Friedrich y Debby McBride, metieron la solicitud de Amigos de la Sociedad Humanitaria para la exención de impuestos en Hacienda de EE.UU. El 12 de enero de 2011, Hacienda dio la aprobación en un tiempo récord de seis semanas para Amigos de la Sociedad Humanitaria de Cozumel. ¡Puedes imaginar la felicidad que nos causó por fin haberlo logrado!
Esperamos que aproveches esta nueva ventaja fiscal y abras tu corazón y billetera para ayudarnos a ofrecer esterilizaciones totalmente gratuitas, así como ayudar a tratar y encontrar buenos hogares para los muchos perros y gatos abandonados de Cozumel. Tú podrías hacer una diferencia en muchas de las vidas de nuestros animales.
NUESTRA MISIÓN
AMIGOS es una organización sin fines de lucro, constituida específicamente para solicitar donaciones para la SOCIEDAD HUMANITARIA DE COZUMEL y así puedan continuar con sus programas de bienestar animal. Estos programas incluyen, entre muchos más: programas de esterilización / castración, educación, cuidado de los animales y refugio y adopción de animales rescatados.
Dona Ahora
The members of the all-volunteer Board of Directors for FRIENDS of the COZUMEL HUMANE SOCIETY are:
Gary R. Gomola, CPA:
Gary is a retired Certified Public Accountant. He met his wife Patricia in Cozumel 25 years ago on a dive trip, and they have been returning to the island on a regular basis ever since. Now in retirement they live here about six or seven months per year. During his years as a tax partner in a Connecticut CPA firm he became active, and has served in officer positions, in many non-profit and civic organizations including the United Way, YMCA, Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. He is also on the Board of Directors of Connecticut based Liberty Bank. Gary and Patricia became active with the Humane Society of Cozumel after meeting Ernesto at a Cozumel Rotary Club meeting. They started out by performing dog and cat adoption escort services to New England. Later Lisa recruited Gary to use his tax and accounting skills, and he now does the contribution receipting and bookkeeping for Friends of the Cozumel Humane Society Inc. He prepares the annual IRS tax return and required contribution acknowledgement letters.
Lisa Anne Ramirez:
Lisa began her mission the day she moved to the island in 1991. Seeing the packs of sick stray dogs walking up and down the ocean front made it hard to avoid the serious issues Cozumel was facing with animal control. When she discovered the local governments methods of dealing with the overpopulation of street dogs was indiscriminately poisoning them in the dark of night, throwing them in to the back of a truck and dumping them (many still alive) in a garbage pile on the far side of the island, she immediately set her sights to dealing with the government to make them stop this barbaric inhumane practice. While her friend Karla Porter was putting the plan of action to open the first free spay & neuter clinic in all of Latin American she soon joined forces with Karla, along with Monica Velasco to build what is now the Humane Society of Cozumel Island. Lisa took over as President in 2008. She revamped their efforts focusing on education, sterilization and outreach. Once the HSCI established tax deductible 501c3 status in the USA they expanded their efforts by branching out in the community. “It has been an uphill battle all the way, no question…but totally worth the fight”. Lisa has supported friends in their efforts in opening animal rescue organizations in other places including Baja, Playa del Carmen and Belize. “To know that we have inspired others to follow our path is one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey…that and the thousands of dogs and cats we have saved”
Robert Ramirez:
Robert is our liaison in the United States that manages all mailed donations made through our tax-deductible status (FOTCHS) and our U.S. bank account. He became involved through his daughter Lisa while witnessing first-hand the amazing changes the HSCI was making on the island. Retired and living in Grapevine, Texas with his partner Julie Quiros, he spends his time sailing and planning his next dive trip to Cozumel.
