Maria’s Cat Fund: A Legacy of Love & Prevention

Mrs. Maria Rita Molnar, whose lifelong love of cats continues to save lives through prevention.

At Colorado Animal Rescue, we often say that every animal’s story is connected to a human one. Sometimes, those connections stretch far beyond a single moment—becoming a legacy that continues to save lives.

This fall, we were honored to receive a $5,000 matching gift from Maria’s Cat Fund, made in loving memory of Mrs. Maria Rita Molnar, a lifelong cat lover whose compassion continues to make a lasting impact on cats and the people who care for them.

A Life Shaped by Cats and Compassion

Maria was born in Italy and lived through World War II as a child. During an incredibly difficult time, her family shared their home with a white cat named Snow who brought comfort, joy, and laughter when it was needed most. That early bond left an imprint that would quietly shape her years to come.

Throughout her life, Maria opened her heart and home to many cats (and even a couple of dogs). One particularly special companion was Punkin, a stray cat who wandered into a veterinarian’s home one afternoon and soon became Maria’s beloved “soul cat.” Punkin’s gentle nature even helped save other cats’ lives—she served as a blood donor for feline patients before retiring to enjoy a long, happy life with Maria.

At age 87, Maria once again chose love when she adopted Cutes, a 20-year-old cat. The two shared nearly two wonderful years together before Cutes crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

What troubled Maria most was knowing how many kittens and cats never get the chance to find loving homes. She believed deeply in prevention through spay and neuter as the most effective, compassionate way to reduce pet overpopulation, and to support both animals and the people who care for them.

Cash for Cats: A Match That Multiplied Impact

In honor of Maria’s wishes, her dear friend Cindy, working with Maria’s Legacy Fund, offered C.A.R.E. a $5,000 matching donation in support of our feline spay and neuter efforts—advancing prevention-focused solutions that benefit cats and feline caretakers.

C.A.R.E. set an ambitious goal of $10,000 as “Cash for Cats” on Colorado Gives Day, knowing that IF we achieved this goal we’d also receive $5,000 from Maria’s Fund!  We invited donors to help us unlock the match and double the lifesaving impact for cats in our community.

Thanks to our generous donors, we not only met the match—we exceeded it!

• $17,511 raised during Colorado Gives Day 2025
• With Maria’s additional $5,000, we raised $22,511 for community cats!

Every dollar raised helps support access to essential spay and neuter for cats, reducing unwanted litters and preventing suffering before it begins.

A Legacy That Lives On

Maria’s Cat Fund is more than a generous gift—it’s a reflection of a life guided by empathy, responsibility, and love. Through this support, more cats will be spared the hardship of homelessness, and families and caretakers will have access to critical preventative care.

We are deeply grateful to Cindy, to Maria’s Legacy Fund, and to everyone who gave during Colorado Gives Day to help carry Maria’s vision forward.

Because of you, her compassion lives on—one surgery, one cat, and one prevented litter at a time.