FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn.–When KS95 Morning Show host and longtime SPIRE Credit Union member Crisco lost his loyal companion, Babe the black lab, suddenly in late June, SPIRE teamed up with the radio station and local animal rescue Secondhand Hounds to support dogs in need in Babe's memory.
On June 29, SPIRE committed to matching up to $10,000 in donations to KS95's "Buck$ for Babe" fund. When that amount was surpassed by listeners in just minutes, SPIRE increased the match amount to $15,000. By the next day, that amount had also been surpassed, and SPIRE stepped up to donate another $10,000 in matching donations - bringing the credit union's total donation to $25,000.
On July 1, SPIRE President/CEO Dan Stoltz joined the KS95 Morning Show in studio to announce the amount raised for the campaign in just 48 hours - a total of $94,500, the credit union reported.
Funds donated to Buck$ for Babe will support Secondhand Hounds as they head to Kentucky next week to rescue dozens of dogs that will find new homes here in Minnesota.
"It just blew me away," said Rachel Mairose, the founder of Secondhand Hounds. "It never stopped - the donations just kept coming in."