I am very pleased to report that AWT distributed a total of $263,000 in grants in 2007 which was accounted for as follows:

• $133,000 in grants from our general grant program to 16 organizations which was an average grant of $8,300 per organization.
• $75,000 in grants to 10 organizations which represented the distribution of a bequest to AWT from the Estate of Eileen Kay Sterioff. Ms. Sterioff was an animal lover who wanted a large part of her estate to go to animal causes. The family of Ms. Sterioff entrusted Animal Welfare Trust with a portion of the estate to be given to organizations that would honor Ms. Sterioff’s memory.
• $15,000 in grants to 3 student internship projects which are discussed in the student internship section of the web site.
• $40,000 to HEART (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers) which is our humane education direct project initiative that was first launched in 2005.

HEART successfully completed its unique Humane Living Program’s assessment phase which was a three semester program started in January of 2006. The results of this assessment study were very favorable and validates our conviction in the potential for humane education to help make our youth more compassionate and respectful citizens of the community and the larger world. The HEART program has recently been expanded to include the full K-12 spectrum.

Also, during the year we continued to develop our SAGA project which is an online resource for high school youth interested in getting involved with animal welfare issues. One of the major goals of SAGA is to encourage the development of high school animal welfare clubs.

Late in 2007 AWT became involved with a project along with other organizations and community activists to end the live animal lab at the New York Medical College. About 90% of medical colleges in the U.S. have stopped using live animals in favor of computer based interactive learning and simulation. In fact, the NYMC was the only medical college in New York State still conducting a live animal lab for instruction. I am pleased to report that in November the College made the decision to end this cruel practice and use non animal alternatives in the training of their students.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to the AWT board and staff for their dedication and excellent work in doing what we can to improve the lives of animals.