Photography by Wendy Dewhurst

The Humane Society, a nonprofit organization that operates a high quality, low cost spay/neuter clinic and shelter, must raise the monies to fund its operations and is constantly looking for fresh fundraising ideas. “My mom gets credit for this one,” Humane Society Executive Director Denise Deisler said. Her mother sent her an article about an animal organization from a small town that had produced a calendar based on the movie Calendar Girls. In the movie, respectable British women bared all for charity. “I figured if upright British women and women from a tiny conservative North Carolina community would take their clothes off for charity, then surely Manatee County women would too,” Deisler said.

The first order of business was to secure a photographer. Longtime Humane Society volunteer and professional photographer Wendy Dewhurst was the perfect choice. Selecting the right photographer was key to the success of the project according to Deisler. “Our calendar girls are not professional models and we were asking them to disrobe. It was important that they were comfortable and have faith in us and Wendy gave them that.”

Calendar girl recruitment began last spring. Committee members were looking for women who loved animals, represented a broad cross section of the community, and who were willing to take their clothes off! There were some women who loved the idea of participating but had to decline either due to work or schedule conflicts. A few others just politely declined. But in the end, the committee had no problem getting 15 courageous women to bare all to benefit animals.

All of the calendar girls expressed a desire to help animals in Manatee as a reason for signing on for the project and some had other personal motives as well. Miss July, Deborah Ross, who posed with Sammy her 14 year-old former shelter dog said, “He’s my baby and I knew I would have this photo forever.” Dr. Carolyn Kohn simply said, “How often do you get asked to be in a calendar?”
 
Deisler says she feels a debt of gratitude to all of the calendar girls for placing their trust in the Humane Society. “These women stepped way out of their comfort zones to help creatures who can’t help themselves — that’s compassion, commitment, community.”

Calendars are available for purchase for $20 and can be ordered online at humanemanatee.org or by calling 941-747-8808 ext. 311. Each month of the calendar features one of the women with her pet(s) pursuing a favorite pastime or hobby. Each page also includes a short biography and favorite quote.