Bingo with Kittens Fundraiser Brings Support to Local Rescue

CLEARWATER, Fla. - July 17, 2025 - PRLog -- On Friday, July 12th, animal lovers gathered at the Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV) Center for a unique afternoon fundraiser: Bingo with Kittens. Guests played rounds of bingo while interacting with adoptable, rescued kittens. The event raised over $1,200 in support of 9 Lives Kitten Rescue, a local nonprofit working to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abandoned kittens across the Tampa Bay area.

9 Lives Kitten Rescue is a volunteer-run organization that provides medical care, a safe home, and adoption opportunities for orphaned and abandoned kittens. The group focuses on kittens—those most vulnerable to euthanasia in shelters. "In the 8 years that I've been doing this, we've saved the lives of over 2,500 kittens," said Kathy Montgomery, the founder and Executive Director of the rescue.

Guests enjoyed a lively afternoon of bingo games, light refreshments, and the chance to play with adoptable kittens. All proceeds from the event went directly toward veterinary care, food, formula, and supplies for current and incoming rescue kittens.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.2 million cats enter U.S. shelters every year, of which approximately 860,000 are euthanized. Kittens are unfortunately at a higher risk due to the specialized care they often need and their susceptibility to illness in a shelter environment. In Pinellas County alone, hundreds of neonatal kittens are brought into shelters each season without mothers, overwhelming the system. Without rescues like 9 Lives, many would not survive.

"We're proud to support 9 Lives Kitten Rescue in their mission," said Tracy Hawkins, director of the CCV Center. "Seeing the community show up to help these animals—and have fun doing it—makes a real difference. As humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard wrote, 'A community that pulls together can make a better society for all.'"

The next charity event is scheduled for July 19^th – a Charity Tea Party benefiting CASA. For more information, please email ccvcenter@ccvfl.org.

About the Clearwater Community Volunteers Center:

The Clearwater Community Volunteers Center, established by the Church of Scientology in 2018, is a home for the benefit of all Tampa Bay nonprofit organizations. Built on the success of the Clearwater Community Volunteers, who host the signature Winter Wonderland and Easter Egg Hunt in Clearwater, the Center was created to serve the needs of local nonprofits. The Center is fully equipped to host meetings, seminars, events and gatherings, all at no cost to the nonprofit community. Please email ccvcenter@ccvfl.org for more information about the Center and its facilities.