The Potter League for Animals announced it has received a $2.9 million bequest from longtime volunteer Roxann Press, the largest single gift in the organization’s nearly 100-year history.
The transformative donation was recognized during the Potter League’s annual meeting Wednesday at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina, where supporters and community leaders gathered despite frigid temperatures and lingering snow.
Press, who died recently, dedicated more than 25 years of service to the organization, caring for animals and building connections with adopters and the community. Her gift to the Potter League’s endowment will provide long-term stability as the cost of veterinary care, shelter operations and community programs continues to rise.
Speakers at the meeting emphasized that while the bequest is significant, ongoing community support remains essential to meeting the daily needs of animals.
The program featured remarks from Jack Murphy, president of the Potter League board of directors and CEO of BankNewport; Michael Grandchamp, board treasurer and vice president for operations and chief financial officer at Salve Regina University; and Brad Shear, the Potter League’s chief executive officer.
Hanna Lentz, executive director of SPARC (Supporting People and Animal Relationships for Change), delivered a keynote presentation on how storytelling strengthens the connection between human and animal well-being.
The Potter League for Animals, established in 1929, operates the Animal Care and Adoption Center in Middletown and a spay and neuter clinic in Warwick.
