Josh Flitter Charities
Like his fictional character Ace Ventura, Jr., Josh Flitter has a soft spot for animals. Helping people and animals in need is very important to him, so he volunteers for the North Shore Animal League, Bideawee, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
North Shore Animal League is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. Since 1944, they’ve been saving the lives of animals through adoption, rescue, spay and neuter, and advocacy initiatives. To date, they have placed close to 1 million dogs and cats in carefully screened homes. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the League rescued more than 1,400 pets from the affected areas. The League is also home to the Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center, a 24-hour care service for the pets sheltered at the League. North Shore Animal League offers a variety of programs, including a mobile adoption program, adoption counseling, training, and foster care for pets with special needs.
The Flitters’ neighbors recently adopted two dogs from the League—they are thrilled that two more dogs have been rescued with money that Josh has helped raise. This year, along with fellow actors Brandon Hannan and Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Josh attended the 8th Annual North Shore Animal League’s "Tour for Life Grand Finale" at FAO Schwartz in New York City and “DOGust the First” in Port Washington, New York.
Bideawee is another top animal welfare organization. Founded in 1903, it's one of the oldest humane organizations in the United States.
"Bideawee" means "stay a while" in Scottish, and the organization's mission is to promote safe, loving, long-term relationships between people and companion animals. Bideawee offers adoption and veterinary services, learning centers, and elder care, as well as pet memorial parks and pet loss support groups. Josh and other Bideawee volunteers walk dogs, help cats interact with people and other animals, organize fundraisers, help with administrative tasks, and participate in pet therapy programs. In November of this year, Josh attended StarPet 2008 as a representative of Bideawee at the Edison Ballroom in New York.
Last year, Josh attended Kids for Kids 2007—The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Carnival. The Foundation was founded by three mothers in 1988 and is now the leading global nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing pediatric HIV infection and eradicating pediatric AIDS.
Elizabeth Glaser contracted the AIDS virus through a blood transfusion in 1981 while giving birth to her daughter, Ariel. Both Ariel and her younger brother, Jake, contracted the virus as a result. While trying to treat Ariel, the Glasers discovered that drug companies and health agencies had no idea how to treat children with HIV and AIDS—everything on the market was for adults. After Ariel passed away when she was 7 years old, Elizabeth rose to action and formed the Pediatric AIDS Foundation with two other mothers. While Elizabeth lost her battle to AIDS, her son Jake is now a healthy young adult, and the Foundation has helped countless children and families living with HIV/AIDS.
