The following story is reposted with permission from the SPCA of Texas. Read the original story in their 2024 annual report, here. Photo courtesy of the SPCA of Texas.
Since its creation, the Perry Fund at CFT has granted nearly $1.2 million to support the SPCA of Texas’ mission. The organization is deeply grateful for its decades-long partnership with CFT and the Perry Endowment Fund, which have been instrumental in advancing its mission and expanding its reach within the community.
Russell Perry, a longtime trustee and former board chair of CFT, worked to shape the foundation’s vision and values. Phoebe Perry, a passionate advocate for animal welfare, was equally committed to making a difference. In the 1980s, Phoebe wrote a groundbreaking editorial for the Dallas Morning News, urging fellow Dallasites to do more for animals in need. This editorial sparked her enduring relationship with the SPCA of Texas and laid the foundation for her lifetime of advocacy.
“Phoebe was a woman of deep conviction, and her dedication to the SPCA of Texas was unwavering,” said Carolyn A. Newham, JD, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for CFT. “She wanted her giving to be meaningful, and we were honored to help her establish the Phoebe and Russell Perry Endowment Fund, ensuring her passion for animal welfare would live on through her generosity.”
Russell and Phoebe had a donor-advised fund with CFT for years. After Russell’s passing, Phoebe worked closely with CFT to establish a legacy fund, ensuring that their shared vision would continue beyond their lifetimes.
The fund has contributed to initiatives like the Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center, which helps families keep their pets by providing food, medical care, and behavioral services to those facing financial hardship.
“Over the past 20 years, CFT and its funds have donated more than $10 million to support the SPCA of Texas,” said Newham. “This collaboration has been transformative, and it’s a testament to the impact that thoughtful, strategic giving can have on an organization and the community it serves.”
Pictured: Phoebe Perry with her beloved dog, Sadie.
Calvert Collins-Bratton, Chief Relationships Officer at CFT, emphasizes the personal connection between CFT and the SPCA of Texas. “Many of our team members, and fundholders, have adopted pets,” Collins-Bratton shared. “This personal connection strengthens our commitment to supporting the organization and its mission.”
“One of the greatest gifts of working with donors like Phoebe and Russell is knowing that their legacy will continue to have an impact for generations to come,” Newham adds.
Newham also highlights the advantages of working with CFT for complex donations. “People can give more types of complex assets through CFT than many nonprofits are able to accept on their own,” Newham explains. “The Perrys gave stock, they gave gifts from their IRA—those types of complex assets are what continue to fund the SPCA of Texas’ work today.”
With CFT’s expertise, partnership, and dedication, combined with the Perry Fund’s lasting legacy, the SPCA of Texas will continue to thrive and provide life-changing support to animals for generations to come.
