October 30, 2026
Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation commits $777,500 for critical facility needs and community spay and neuter services as new “Forever Fund” launches
(TULSA, Okla.) – Tulsa Community Foundation CEO Phil Lakin today announced the creation of a $1 million endowment fund to provide permanent financial support for Tulsa Animal Services, along with the launch of“Be a Hero, Tulsa!,” a community-wide campaign challenging Tulsans to match that commitment by raising an additional $1 million or more.
Lakin was joined by Elizabeth Hall, executive director of the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation; Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols; Tulsa City Councilor Laura Bellis, representing the Animal Services Working Group; and Sherri Carrier, Tulsa Animal Services director for the announcement at the city’s nearly completed animal care facility.
The Tulsa Animal Forever Fund, a private endowment established and managed by Tulsa Community Foundation, will provide an ongoing source of financial support for the evolving needs of Tulsa Animal Services. The fund is designed to benefit generations of animals by helping provide critical medical equipment, improved animal care environments, safety enhancements and other priority resources as needs arise and funding is available.
“A hero has stepped forward with a $1 million commitment to establish the Forever Fund,” said Lakin. “A portion of that commitment is already helping address some of the greatest needs as the City of Tulsa completes this remarkable new facility. But the needs do not end when the doors open. Animals will continue to need medical care, safe environments and opportunities to find loving homes for generations to come. That is why we are asking Tulsans to ‘Be a Hero’ and match this commitment by contributing to a permanent fund that will help care for Tulsa’s animals forever.”
The announcement also recognizes the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation as the original lead funder of critical needs at the new facility. The foundation initially committed $300,000 for two additional animal pods, expanding kennel capacity to 42 total kennels. The additional pods were not included in the City’s construction budget.
The foundation’s board has now approved another $227,500 for gaps in the new facility’s needs identified by Tulsa Animal Services and $250,000 for the TAS Community Spay/Neuter Initiative through the Fix It, Tulsa campaign. The additional $477,500 brings the foundation’s total commitment to $777,500. These designated gifts
are separate from Tulsa Community Foundation’s Forever Fund and matching campaign.
“The Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation believes lasting improvements in animal welfare require more than a building. They require innovative approaches, preventive care and a strong network of organizations working together to support animals and the people who call them family,” said Elizabeth Hall, executive director for the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation and Tulsa Animal Welfare commissioner. “Additionally, serving on the Tulsa Animal Welfare Commission and the City Council Working Group on Animal Welfare, provided additional understanding of the most critical needs of this new facility and the opportunity to make a difference while construction was still underway.”
Initial funding has already helped purchase Tulsa Animal Services’ first-ever emergency backup generator, which will keep critical heating, cooling, ventilation and animal care systems operating during power outages, severe storms, extreme summer heat and winter weather. The commitment will also help provide a modern kennel cleaning system designed to create a safer, healthier environment for animals, staff and volunteers.
While these initial investments address immediate priorities, the Forever Fund is intended to provide a lasting source of support that can respond to the facility’s changing needs year after year.
Managed by Tulsa Community Foundation, the permanent endowment is separate from the City of Tulsa’s annual operating budget. It is designed to complement, not replace, the City’s investment in Tulsa Animal
Services by providing an additional, privately funded source of support for priority needs as resources are available.
The announcement coincides with the near completion of Tulsa Animal Services’ new facility, scheduled to open in early 2027.
Tulsa voters approved a $13.8 million capital investment by the City of Tulsa to build the modern animal care facility at 5995 E. 36th St. N. Construction began in 2024, replacing a facility at 3031 N. Erie Ave. that has served the community for more than 50 years.
“Tulsa voters made it clear that our animals deserve better, and the city listened by making a significant investment in a modern facility that reflects our community’s values,” Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “As we think about additional things that we’ll need in the years ahead, I’m thankful to have these types of public-private partnerships that will make a tremendous difference. With the generosity of the
Tulsa Community Foundation with this campaign and for the Sanford and Irene Burnstein Family Foundation’s support toward better outcomes in Tulsa, we have an opportunity as a community to not only make Tulsa Animal Services one of the premier municipal animal care facilities in the nation but showcase the way our community cares for its animals.”
The new facility represents a significant transformation in how Tulsa Animal Services will care for animals and serve the community. Its design supports modern veterinary medicine, improved disease prevention, animal rehabilitation and expanded opportunities for adoption.
“This new facility represents years of work, thoughtful planning and a shared commitment to improving animal welfare in Tulsa,” Councilor Laura Bellis said. “Throughout the process, our working group focused not only on what the building needed to be when it opened, but what Tulsa Animal Services would need to succeed in the years ahead. The Forever Fund helps answer that question. It creates an opportunity for the entire community to become part of this investment and build upon what Tulsa voters have already made possible.”
Tulsa Animal Services cares for nearly 9,000 animals each year, including stray animals, animals involved in cruelty investigations and owner surrenders.
Over the past three and a half years, Tulsa Animal Services has increased its live release rate from 66% to 82%, with a goal of achieving 90% and joining the nation’s highest-performing municipal animal care organizations.
The current facility was built more than 50 years ago, when the primary mission of many municipal animal shelters was to capture and euthanize stray animals. It was not designed to support the level of veterinary medicine, rehabilitation, disease prevention and adoption services expected today.
“Every animal that comes through our doors has a different story, but they all deserve the chance to heal and thrive,” said Sherri Carrier, director of Tulsa Animal Services. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to improve outcomes, even with the limitations of a facility that was never designed for the level of care we provide today. This new building will change what is possible, but a building alone cannot change an animal’s story. We need the medical equipment, safe spaces and resources to give every animal the best possible chance. The Forever Fund means we will have a community partner helping us meet those needs not just when we open, but for years to come.”
Beyond the initial equipment investments, examples of needs that future endowment distributions may help address include:
- Lifesaving medical care: ultrasound equipment, cold laser therapy and oxygen therapy units to improve diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
- Safer, healthier animal care: larger dog kennels, modern cat condos, disease isolation systems and equipment that improves safety for animals and staff.
- Improved adoption opportunities: comfortable “get-to-know” spaces where families can interact with animals and build connections before adoption.
- Enrichment and rehabilitation: outdoor canine play yards, a secure catio, sound barriers and other improvements that reduce stress and encourage healthier behavior.
- Expanded community services: vaccination clinics, spay and neuter services and programs that help families keep their pets.
Specific investments will be determined by Tulsa Animal Services’ highest-priority needs and the endowment resources available over time.
“The first heroes have made a difference. Now, Tulsa, it’s our turn,” Lakin said. “Whether someone gives $5, $25, $250 or makes a larger commitment, every donation becomes part of something lasting. Together, we can help write a new chapter for Tulsa’s animals and create a legacy of care that continues long after we are
EDITOR’S NOTE: How to donate
Be a Hero, Tulsa! invites individuals, families, businesses and organizations to help match the $1 million commitment to the Forever Fund.
- Donations of any size are welcome, including one-time contributions, monthly gifts and planned giving through bequests or other estate gifts. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
- Donations can be made online through the secure giving link at BeAHeroTulsa.org.
Checks may be made payable to:
Tulsa Community Foundation | FBO Tulsa Animal Forever Fund
Mail or deliver to:
Tulsa Community Foundation
7030 S. Yale Ave., Suite 600
Tulsa, OK 74136
For questions or assistance with giving, contact jsisemore@tulsacf.org.
ABOUT BE A HERO, TULSA!
Launched in 2026 by Tulsa Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Tulsa and Tulsa Animal Services, Be a Hero, Tulsa! seeks to support the long-term success of Tulsa’s new municipal animal facility by raising funds to
address priority needs today and for generations to come. Donations are placed in a private Tulsa Animal Forever Fund
managed by Tulsa Community Foundation. Learn more at BeAHeroTulsa.org.
ABOUT TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Established in 1998, TCF is dedicated to assisting nonprofit agencies, corporations, individuals and families with flexible charitable giving solutions. Since its inception, TCF has enhanced the quality of life in eastern Oklahoma by providing individualized services to donors, serving as a catalyst for vital local issues, sharing community knowledge with the public, maintaining effective financial stewardship of assets and maximizing return on investment for each grant made. Learn more at https://tulsacf.org/.
ABOUT SANFORD & IRENE BURNSTEIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation is dedicated to promoting initiatives that enrich and foster a community where inclusivity and equity are at the heart of progress. The Foundation strives to empower organizations and break down barriers, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to a thriving, vibrant, and sustainable community. Learn more at BurnsteinFoundation.com
ABOUT CITY OF TULSA ANIMAL SERVICES
Tulsa Animal Services (TAS) is the City of Tulsa’s municipal animal services department dedicated to protecting public safety and promoting humane animal care in the community. Operating an open-admission facility, TAS accepts animals regardless of age, health, breed, or behavior and provides essential services, including stray animal intake, reunification, adoption, fostering, and animal control. Learn more at CityOfTulsa.org/TAS.