The Brandi Project

New organization is all about raising funds to save dogs

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 4/8/15

It’s hard to believe but Jim Paolucci was not a “dog person” just a few years ago.

Now, Paolucci has held numerous fundraisers for PAWS New England and just launched his own organization, …

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The Brandi Project

New organization is all about raising funds to save dogs

Posted

It’s hard to believe but Jim Paolucci was not a “dog person” just a few years ago.

Now, Paolucci has held numerous fundraisers for PAWS New England and just launched his own organization, the Brandi Project, which raises money for dog rescue organizations, all thanks to a beagle/border collie mix Brandi, Paolucci’s rescue dog.

As a puppy, Brandi had found herself in a high kill shelter with a 90 percent euthanasia rate in Tennessee.

PAWS New England, an organization that rescues dogs from high kill shelters and cares for them until they find their “forever home,” rescued Brandi from “death row.” Eventually, Brandi found herself with a foster family in Rhode Island.

Now, Paoluccis’s wife, Iwona Paolucci, had been looking to adopt a dog, but Paolucci had kept putting off any adoption, that is, until he met Brandi at an anniversary party at Brandi’s foster home.

“There were maybe ten dogs in total playing in the back yard, then there was this smaller dog off to the side all by herself. After meeting Brandi she wouldn’t leave my side for the rest of the party,” Paolucci said.

When the couple learned Brandi was up for adoption they finished the paperwork by the end of the week and took the pup home. That was in September 2012.

Paolucci began doing research on dog rescue, and when he saw everything volunteers have to do to save a dog, all the care and concern, he thought his $450 adoption fee was very minimal in comparison. He started holding fundraisers for PAWS New England at his restaurant, the Cowesett Inn. His first fundraiser earned $3,000 for the organization.

Paolucci said, “I feel dog rescue organizations, like PAWS, are so passionate, but they are underfunded, under-represented and under-appreciated. They have expenses just like any other business. Once they remove a dog from the shelter there is no going back. They do whatever it takes to keep that dog alive and find them a family. Imagine what they could do with just a little funding.”

After a few years of fundraising with a lot of success, Paolucci wanted to find another way to help, a way to continuously benefit PAWS and organizations like it. Thus, the Brandi Project was born.

Kelly Parker, one of the founders of PAWS New England, said that Paolucci has been a real success story for the organization and has continued to be a generous donor.

“He would come to us with these donations, but always express that he wanted to do more and that’s when he came to us with the Brandi Project idea. We were so over the moon about the whole idea,” she said in a phone interview.

“I missed out on dogs all these years and Brandi is such a great dog. PAWS just gave so much to my life and I wanted to give back in any way I could,” Paolucci said.

The Brandi Project sells branded merchandise, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags and window decals, online and 25 percent of the sale price is directly donated to PAWS New England. The remaining 75 percent goes straight back into the company to create the merchandise and help the company expand.

Paolucci said the hope is that as the Brandi Project grows, customers from all over will be able to pick and choose which dog rescue or shelter organization they would like their donation to go to.

Andy Webb, who has been assisting the Brandi Project in communications, said the company has “national aspirations” as a company that financially supports dog rescue and creates a tangible and recognizable merchandise to raise awareness with their branded products.

“Brandi has really become the face of dog rescue, the Smokey the Bear for this cause,” Webb said. “And our dog tag symbol for the project is the like the pink ribbon for breast cancer; it is an easy recognizable symbol that shows support and can identify with a cause.”

Parker said that often rescue dogs are pitied and sometimes a little bit feared because people never know what to expect. She loves that the Brandi Project is starting to change that.

“It is great that we can present an iconic compassionate vision of strong and brave rescue dogs.”

The company had their launch party on March 22, a “Black Leash Affair,” at the Cowesett Inn with dinner and a meet and greet Brandi cocktail hour.

Mayor Scott Avedisian was at the event and said Brandi was the “star” and everybody couldn’t get enough of her.

“Jim Paolucci is a longstanding leader in our business community,” Avedisian said. “He is passionate about the rescue program that he and his wife Iwona are involved in. The smiles on people’s faces last Sunday were so heartwarming. They are an incredible family who has run the Cowesett Inn for many years. It is wonderful that they now have Brandi as an integral part of their family.”

Avedisian even took a photo with the famous pooch.

Paolucci said Brandi is just a fun-loving and adventurous dog who loved getting to meet so many people at the event and at 3½ years old she still “acts like a young puppy.” The Black Leash Affair raised $2,100 for PAWS New England.

Currently, the Brandi Project is working on expanding their company and their social media presence.

Webb said, “We want to interact and engage with other organizations so we can grow organically.”

If you would like to donate to the Brandi Project or purchase any of their merchandise visit their website, www.thebrandiproject.com.

Parker explained that because PAWS New England is completely made up of volunteers and they don’t have a “brick and mortar” location, all donations go directly to travel expenses, veterinarian costs, grooming and food for the rescue dogs.

You can also submit your rescue story to the website for publication to get the word out about rescue dogs.

“I’m thrilled people are reaching out, and it’s rewarding to know dogs are being saved thanks to the money we raise,” Paolucci said. “All the dogs are unique and one of a kind dogs you can’t replicate a rescue dog.”

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