Owen & Gayle Robinson – 2022 Gene Thayer Animal Advocate Award Recipients

We are honored to present Owen and Gayle Robinson with the Gene Thayer Animal Advocate Award, in recognition of their years of hard work endeavoring for the advancement of animal welfare in Great Falls and its surrounding communities.

Owen and Gayle have been irreplaceable in the establishment and continued growth of the Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center as volunteers, donors, fundraisers, and in Owen’s case, President and member of the Board of Trustees. Since their support began in 2004, they have shown their dedication in every way possible, from Gayle graciously donating her Salted Nut Rolls whenever asked, to Owen’s six years on the board. Thanks to the Robinson’s help, the Animal Foundation was able to secure 1.7 million dollars in loans and complete our great Center, opening the doors for cats and dogs in need. A few years later, Owen and Gayle were instrumental in the fundraising efforts needed to reach our “Get Out of Debt” Campaign goal of paying off that debt in full. It is not a stretch to say that the Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center may not have existed without the perseverance of this selfless couple.

As if dedicating their lives to service wasn’t enough, they also encourage others to do the same. Owen and Gayle are an inspiration to all those who labor for the betterment of animal welfare, and an example of what we can accomplish when we work hard and keep our hearts open. As Owen likes to say, “People are better because of animals.”

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