Growing up, Mary Jane Hanson was surrounded by animals. When she became a mother, she wanted her son to experience the same joy, companionship, and unconditional love that animals had brought to her life.
Mary Jane and Dr. Joseph Hanson adopted their first puppy, Sparky, from the Washington Area Humane Society when he was just eight weeks old. Sparky became a cherished member of the Hanson family and brought them more than 16 years of love, loyalty, and countless memories.
When the time came for them to consider how they could give back, supporting rescue animals was deeply important to them.
“Our pets are family, and the unconditional love they give is something everyone should experience,” said Mary Jane.
Through conversations with the Foundation, the Hansons learned more about the needs facing local animal welfare organizations and discovered a meaningful way to create lasting support through the Mary Jane & Joseph Hanson Animal Welfare Fund.
“It was a blessing to meet Aliesha and Emeline from WCCF and talk about how we wanted to give back to rescue animals. They took the time to understand our goals and arrange a tour of the Humane Society. The process was seamless, and we are grateful for their expertise in turning our wishes into reality.”
Today, their fund helps strengthen animal welfare efforts throughout our community while honoring the animals that have enriched their lives.