5-Minute Interview: Howard Baskin, chairman, Big Cat rescue

FS: Can you describe a recent successful fundraising effort?

HB: Here are a couple:

* Memorial Area. Previously, our “cemetery” was a hodgepodge of a few nice memorial stones donated over the years combined with many of the signs that used to hang on the cages with the names of the cats. A little over a year ago I found a fellow who gave us a good deal on very rich-looking marble plaques with images of the cats engraved on them. We built a short wall to set them on and offered donors the opportunity to memorialize the cats and have their name on the plaques for $250. As of yesterday, all 72 had been donated, raising $18,000 over that time. (www.bigcatrescue.org/foreverremembered.htm).