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Top Pets · Rescue Grant

Marissa Fiene

Marissa Fiene

I am a college graduate with a BA and a double major in Psychology and Sociology, currently continuing my education to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). Alongside my studies, I work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in early autism intervention, where I support children in developing essential life and communication skills. I have had a lifelong passion for animals. Growing up, I would often ask my parents to take me to volunteer at local shelters simply because I loved being around animals and helping however I could. That passion eventually grew into something deeply personal. After the loss of my beloved cat, Orchid, I founded my own rescue project, Orchid’s Foster Friends, as a way to process my grief and honor her memory. Through Orchid’s Foster Friends, I rescue cats in need throughout the Kansas City area, providing them with care, veterinary support, and safe, loving foster environments until they can be placed in permanent homes. This work has become a meaningful extension of both my compassion for animals and my commitment to helping others. Orchid’s Foster Friends operates with the support of a fiscal sponsor, the nonprofit Chappy and Friends, which helps make this rescue work possible and sustainable.

Marissa and Orchid

Marissa and foster cat, Tomato

Message from adopter of our foster cat Ham

Orchid’s Foster Friends is a strong candidate for grant funding because it combines a proven, high-impact model with demonstrated early success and clear potential for growth. In just a few months of operation, I have independently raised over $1,000 through grassroots fundraising, rescued six cats from at-risk situations, and successfully placed four into loving homes. I accomplished all of this as a one-person operation. These outcomes highlight both the effectiveness of the program’s approach and my ability to translate limited resources into meaningful, measurable results.

The foster-based model ensures that every dollar invested goes directly toward individualized care for cats in need. Without the overhead of a physical shelter, funding is used efficiently to provide veterinary services, essential supplies, and safe foster placements. This approach not only improves health and behavioral outcomes for the animals but also increases adoption success rates, creating lasting impact for both pets and families.

In addition, Orchid’s Foster Friends addresses a critical gap in the Kansas City animal welfare system. With local shelters frequently at capacity, the program plays an important role in relieving overcrowding and providing an alternative pathway for cats who may otherwise face prolonged stays or abandonment. Its ability to collaborate with shelters and provide limited support to pet owners experiencing financial hardship further extends its impact within the community.

The organization’s partnership with its fiscal sponsor, Chappy and Friends, ensures responsible financial oversight, transparency, and sustainability. This structure allows Orchid’s Foster Friends to focus on direct animal care while maintaining accountability in the use of grant funds.

Ultimately, this grant would directly expand the program’s capacity to care for more cats, strengthen its foster network, and transition from a one-person effort into a more sustainable, community-supported initiative. Investing in Orchid’s Foster Friends means supporting a dedicated, efficient, and growing program that is already making a measurable difference; one cat, and one home, at a time.