Frank Higgins has been an ardent supporter of animal rescues and nonprofit organizations supporting the welfare of animals in Cattaraugus County for many years.

After the recent passing of his beloved husky, Brady, he decided to further that support by establishing an endowment fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation in Brady’s name and memory.

Brady’s Cause will support animal welfare in the Cattaraugus County region through grants to agencies including Empire Animal Rescue Society (EARS) and the SPCA in Cattaraugus County.

Higgins’s relationship with EARS began when he adopted Brady with the help of Courtney Valent, EARS president, in 2011, and that relationship has deepened in the years since.

In the years since, the Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament Fund at CRCF has provided annual support to EARS, totaling $22,000. EARS garnered additional donations as Higgins provided volunteers the opportunity to operate an auction at the Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament each year.

For Higgins, the opportunity to honor Brady by supporting organizations that rescue and facilitate adoption of animals in need is a fitting tribute to his best friend and walking partner of many years.

“Brady was my best friend, and he became almost like a mascot for my whole neighborhood,” said Higgins. “Animals become a part of your family, so it feels good to support organizations that help pair people with animals that become important to them, just like Brady was for me.”

The SPCA in Cattaraugus County has also received grant support from the Higgins Memorial in recent years.

As an endowment, the fund will last in perpetuity to support animal rescues and animal welfare organizations in the region in Brady’s memory for many years to come, said CRCF Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit.

“Often times, our donors are very intentional in honoring loved ones through their philanthropy,” said Buchheit. “Brady was just that for Frank, and it’s an honor to manage this fund that will do so much good for animal welfare causes in our region in Brady’s memory.”

Donations can be made to the Brady’s Cause at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N. Union St., Suite 203, Olean, NY 14760 or online at cattfoundation.org.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive, and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).