What would you do to help raise money for animals in need?  One dedicated Team ASPCA member quite literally jumped at the opportunity to help the ASPCA and animals everywhere by raising money in a very unique way. 

Jill Hoffman is a 50-year-old marketing and public relations professional based out of Los Angeles, California. A little over two years ago, Jill received an email about Team ASPCA, a program that allows you to fundraise for the ASPCA through various athletic programs and other creative and meaningful endeavors. At the time, she was recovering from deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism, so when she saw our call for runners at the 2014 Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon, she took it as “a sign.” Jill was inspired to join Team ASPCA, and after the email literally set her in motion, she’s been running to help animals ever since. She has raised approximately $7,000 to date since 2014 as a member of Team ASPCA.

This year, as Jill began to prep for the annual half marathon, she felt like she had to do something “really big” to get people’s attention and increase donations to her campaign. Then it came to her: Jill’s goal pace for this year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon is 9:05 minutes per mile, and she decided that if she could raise $905 in nine days and five hours, she would go sky diving on September 5, 2016. Sure enough, her tactic worked! Four days after pledging to do the jump, Jill raised the money and the date was set.

“Of course I’m scared,” Jill said before the big day. “But when I think about the terror faced by millions of animals on our streets, in our overcrowded shelters or forced to live with abusers, my fear subsides. I mostly just feel energized about using the experience to raise as much money as possible for the ASPCA, and hopefully, draw greater attention to the issues faced by animals every day in the U.S.”

The big day came, and Jill took to the skies to fulfill her end of the bargain— and the fall was worth it. Not only did Jill’s efforts help her raise a significant amount towards her fundraising goals, but she also experienced something she will never forget. 

“It was the scariest thing I have ever done, but it was also the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done. I would never have done this if I didn’t have the animals in mind and a fundraising goal to try and reach,” says Jill of the experience. 

Jill, like many of our Team ASPCA members, used her creativity to challenge not only the people around her to take action and to raise awareness, but also to challenge herself. “Team ASPCA has totally changed my life!” Jill says. “Hopefully, by sharing my story, I will raise more money and awareness, and inspire others to ‘aim higher’.”

Jill’s daring and bold story makes the ASPCA proud to call her a member of Team ASPCA. It’s dedicated members like Jill that enable Team ASPCA to raise awareness and make a difference in animals’ lives across the U.S.

Dare to get creative to make a difference like Jill: Join Team ASPCA today!