Mr. Tony La Russa - From Baseball to Animal Rescue

Tony La Russa and his wife receive the Shining World Compassionate Award.

On April 12, Golden Year 5 (2008), baseball legend Tony La Russa, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and professional baseball player, accompanied by his wife, Elaine, were presented with the Shining World Compassion Award for their compassionate service through the non-profit organization Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) that they co-founded.

Tony and Elaine were inspired to create ARF in 1991 when they discovered there was not a single "no-kill" animal shelter in the East Bay Region of the San Francisco Bay Area, after Tony rescued a terrified stray cat that darted onto the field during a baseball game. ARF's motto is "Animals Rescuing People; People Rescuing Animals," and its goal is to find caring homes for abused and abandoned animals and educate the public about the importance of controlling pet overpopulation through spay and neuter programs. Because of their life-long dedication as animal advocates, Tony La Russa received the prestigious Henry Bergh Award from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Just recently ARF received 4-star ratings for its operating efficiency and service capacity by Charity Navigator, a non-profit charity evaluating organization. Tony and Elaine warmly accepted the Award and Elaine was particularly interested to learn that Supreme Master Ching Hai is a vegetarian and extends Her compassion to all living things. She was thrilled to receive Master's recently published books.

Congratulations to Tony and Elaine La Russa, and may their beneficial work through ARF continue to help humans and animals alike find loving and caring homes!

Reference: http://www.arf.net