Giving Thanks for All Living Things

As this special day of gratitude fills our hearts with warmth and thanks, we at WISDOM Good Works would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of you working every day to achieve ecological balance in our world.

We are grateful for partners, donors, and volunteers whose commitment to using humane means of controlling animal overpopulation is leading to a better tomorrow.

As we gather with loved ones to express our gratitude, let us also extend our compassion to the animals who share our world and make informed choices that align with our values of kindness and respect for all living beings.

For Dr. Cheryl Dyer and myself, we have another reason to be very grateful this year. Last month, we were able to bring together the family and friends of Virginia Joy Vorous for a celebration of her life in San Diego.

For 83 years, Virginia lived her life with exuberance. She was passionate about science, animals, and the promise of discovery. She was part of the reason we founded WISDOM, the very epitome of a woman in science doing outreach to mentor others.

She certainly mentored us. When we first built our scientific model for a technology that would render mice infertile without harmful side effects, Virginia was our biggest cheerleader. She made us “show her the science” and became one of our initial investors.

In a final act of kindness, she remembered WISDOM Good Works in her will with a large bequest. That generosity is helping us further the adoption of fertility-control technology, using science to control animal overpopulation and advance ecological balance without resorting to poison.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us in San Diego on the catamaran Aolani to celebrate Virginia’s life.

On behalf of Dr. Cheryl Dyer and myself, we wish you a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving shared with those you love.