As we turn the page on the first month of 2026, we wanted to take a look back at all of the amazing ways our staff, volunteers, supporters, and community lived out the MaxFund Mission. Here’s a recap of all the amazing, lifesaving work we were able to accomplish together.  

A Strong Start: Operation LA Wildfire Transfers 

The year 2025 was a big one for MaxFund in many ways, and we believe the first month may have set the bar pretty high. Thankfully, our impassioned community showed up ten-fold for the needy animals of Colorado and beyond.  

You may remember at the top of last year; the Los Angeles/Palisades communities of California were heavily impacted by a rapidly on-setting and growing wildfire down the coast. As Coloradans, we’re all familiar with how quickly a fire can become a threat to a community. We were fortunate enough to send our air-conditioned RV, equipped with kennels and veterinary staff ready to provide aid to those shelters impacted by this fire. Together, we were able to rescue at-risk animals, who didn’t have a home to begin with, and they have thankfully all been adopted. 

The Passing of CPOF (HB-1137) 

Marching along into March, we saw historic wins in the world of animal welfare, namely the passing of CPOF (HB-1137). The passing of this bill opened the doors wider for Colorado rescues and shelters by broadening the funding for TNR programs to higher risk communities. The bill went on to be passed fully in a Senate vote!  

As an organization so heavily and directly involved in animal welfare, we pride ourselves in working to forward the no-kill movement through community advocacy and maximizing programs that strengthen care Colorado’s needy animals will receive. 

This passing has a huge impact on Colorado’s needy animal population. HB 1137 increased the number of shelters and rescues that would receive funding for TNR programs, broadened the diversity on the board that decides which organizations would receive that funding, and put in place measures to prevent funding from being allocated due to bias. The bill also enshrined the fund’s practice of awarding 70% of grants annually to organizations in rural areas, which are often overlooked. We are so grateful to have been able to make a difference for those impacted! 

Next with Kyle Clark: Word of Thanks 

The summer sun began to shine, and the first ray hit MaxFund! Back in June of last year, we were selected by Kyle Clark and his incredible team as a feature nonprofit for Next with Kyle Clark’s Word of Thanks micro-giving campaign. In just a few weeks, we received an outpouring of support from the Colorado community, seeing over $100,000 donated towards this campaign. We couldn’t be more grateful to Kyle and the 9News team for not only platforming our mission and uplifting the No Kill movement even further, but also their continued support through, like the Friday Furcast features Chris Bianchi includes in his weather updates on 9News. We are so honored they’ve chosen to support MaxFund. 

Top Dog at Top Golf  

Like year’s prior, in July we hosted many of our friends, supporters, and community members for a driving range fundraiser at Top Golf. Teams came together for a little friendly golf competition in support of the No-Kill mission. At the event, guests enjoyed a buffet-style taco bar, the chance to enter a raffle for incredible prizes donated by businesses and community partners, and tried their hand at holes in one for the cause. 

This year, we’re excited to announce that we’re doing things a little differently. Introducing, our inaugural 18-hole golf fundraiser: Fore the Animals! We’re lucky enough to work with Cherry Creek Country Club to host this event in style. The competition will feature banquet-style dining, including a breakfast complete with a Bloody Mary Bar, a luncheon and award ceremony. More details to come, check out the initial elements of this event on the official website, and snag your team’s spot while there’s still time. 

Punk Rock Saves Lives: A Day with KsE and I Prevail 

In August, one lucky dog got the chance to experience something not many humans have even had the chance to say they’ve done. When the team behind Killswitch Engage and I Prevail’s participation in the Summer of Loud tour reached out to us with interest in collaborating, we knew just what to do.  

We were grateful to show the band members and their tour teams around our facilities. The Venn diagram of animal lovers and metal music fans is a circle, so it was no surprise that all of the band members were completely taken with the adorable animals in our shelters. Then later, one of our adoptable dogs, Blaze, got an extraordinary experience. Blaze got what many fans dream of; he got to spend time with the musicians enjoying pup-cups on that summer day and even got backstage passes before the show. The outpouring of support the teams showed our mission was astounding, featuring us on their social media, taking photos with staff, and KsE singer Jesse Leach even demonstrated his infamous “scream.” 

The Annual MaxFund Gala: Maskpawrade 

As quickly as the summer flew by, the annual gala approached. Our pinnacle fundraising event every year, last year’s event really knocked it out of the park. As in years past, we hosted the annual event at the Four Seasons Hotel of Denver. The event featured an open bar, an immaculate and expansive auction, a four-course fine dining experience, and exclusive to this rendition of the event, live Phantom of the Opera-inspired performances.  

We truly can’t thank those who made this event possible enough. With their support the 2025 MaxFund Gala fundraiser took the title of highest amount fundraised for our non-profit mission. We’re eager to put those donations to work to forward our mission, proceeds going directly towards the shelter and care of Colorado’s most vulnerable dogs and cats. 

Wrapping up 2025: End of Year Giving 

We ended the year 2025 with a bang, fundraising style! This winter, we were so thankful for the outpouring of support our community offered. Whether you were an individual who donated to our Colorado Gives Day Portal, a business who hosted a MaxFund Giving Tree, or an incredible Donor to our No Empty Bowls Community Pet Pantry, we are eternally grateful for your generosity. You showed up for not only MaxFund’s needy animals, but also your fellow community members during their time of need. The participation these campaigns saw this winter was awe-inspiring. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your contributions, you truly showed us what the MaxFund mission means to you. 

Looking into 2026: A Year of Many Changes  

In 2025, you all adopted animals from our shelters at record numbers. You fundraised creatively, and competitively. You volunteered to support even our more outlandish projects. You showed up for the lifesaving MaxFund mission. 2025 will be tough to beat but know this: MaxFund Animal Adoption Center is changing for the better. We make you this promise: Our mission is the same, even if other aspects of what we do look different. We will continue to challenge lawmakers to platform animal wellness; we will strive to give Colorado’s most vulnerable animals a second chance at finding their true companions, regardless of the level of care they require. The MaxFund mission persists in 2026.