Albert Schweitzer Animal Welfare Fund
The Albert Schweitzer Animal Welfare Fund, established in 1981, was named for the famed scientist and humanitarian in recognition of his philosophy of Reverence for Life. Our fund supports the following types of projects:
- Seeking and implementing humane solutions to the problem of companion animal overpopulation
- Humane education
- Enhancing the humaneness and efficiency of animal shelter operations, sanctuaries and rescue centers
- Protecting large animals and wild animals
- Discovering ways to eliminate pain and suffering of animals used in biomedical research and testing, through reduction of numbers, improved protocols or by use of non-sentient substitutes.
About Albert Schweitzer
Born in 1875, Schweitzer was sensitive to the suffering of all living things even as a child. At age 21, after receiving doctorates in music, theology, and philosophy, he declared that he would live for science and art until age 30, and then he would devote the rest of his life to serving humanity.
True to his word, he worked tirelessly to promote his mission and in 1913, established a missionary hospital at Lambaréné, Gabon (then French Equatorial Africa). Dr Schweitzer was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. Schweitzer died at Lambaréné in 1965 at the age of 90.
“Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind.”
~ Albert Schweitzer