Ivy Corfis initially chose to support the UW School of Veterinary Medicine because of the exceptional veterinary care that her animals received via UW Veterinary Care, of which she has many experiences to draw from. Since 2005, her two beloved beagles, Cassie and Woodstock, were cared for by specialists in dentistry, ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, general medicine, acupuncture, surgery, and emergency care.
“The care my dogs received at UW has always been exceptional, from the SVM faculty to the residents to the students and staff,” Corfis recalls. “There was more care and communication from the veterinary staff than I’ve received from physicians for my own care. I wanted to support that kind of wonderful work, research, and training.”
Just as important to Corfis is the way the SVM cares for other animals and their owners—people and pets that she doesn’t know and likely never will.
“I support the UW veterinary school not only for the excellent care they’ve provided to my pets but to all animals,” says Corfis. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to pay for all the medical care my “babies” needed, but others are not always able to do that, even though they love their animals just as much as I loved mine. We should be helping everyone care for their family–and that includes their companion animals.”
To that end, Corfis has directed her giving over the years to help improve the health and welfare of animals that need it most via two SVM programs: The UW Shelter Medicine Program, which provides animal shelters and communities around the country with a wide range of cost-effective support services, including remote and on-site shelter consultations, disease outbreak assistance, and diagnostic testing; and the SVM’s Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services program (WisCARES), an innovative, collaborative program that provides access for low-income individuals and their pets to a full-service community veterinary clinic, including a boarding and foster program, and pet food pantry, as well as wraparound services, such as housing advocacy for clients experiencing homelessness, so that families and their pets can stay together.
“I am passionate about both shelter care and helping people care for their best friends regardless of their ability to pay,” she says. “Helping all animals in need has always been very important to me, and these programs in particular touch my heart.”
Corfis is also a generous supporter of the Companion Animal Fund, which has been providing financial support to SVM research designed to improve treatment outcomes and help animals live healthier, longer lives. Since the program’s inception more than 30 years ago, donations like Corfis’ have led to many advancements, including better seizure medications, more effective pain control options, improved surgical methods, and new insights into debilitating diseases, not just for animals, but for humans as well.
Ultimately, it’s that interdependence between animals and humans that Corfis says best explains her ongoing motivation to support the school, not only through the aforementioned gifts but also by including the UW School of Veterinary Medicine in her legacy plans.
“I am touched by all animals, especially companion animals: their resiliency, their ability to relate to humans, their empathy,” she says. “In my experience, the love animals give us makes them important to human happiness. I think we can learn a lot from them about loving unconditionally. They ask for so little in return.”
This article was featured in the Winter 2023-24 issue of On Call magazine.