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News Release
September 19, 2011
Atlanta Humane Society Names New President
Business, Civic Leader Set to Lead Larger Organization
Atlanta – Atlanta business and civic leader William Shaheen is named President of Atlanta Humane Society effective November 2011. Shaheen is set to lead the not-for-profit organization as it doubles its operational size and expands its service offerings into the North Fulton region with the opening of the Mansell Road campus in December.
Completing a second term, Shaheen is currently Chairman of the Board of the Atlanta Humane Society Board of Directors where he has served since 2000. He is also president of Shaheen & Co., a second-generation real estate development firm, where he will continue to work in a strategic capacity.
“My parents’ long-time dedication to Atlanta’s philanthropic community has instilled in me a strong sense of charitable duty,” explains Shaheen. “Over the past decade, I have immersed myself in the Humane Society culture taking leadership roles in many important initiatives that advanced our cause. I expect this experience, coupled with my business acumen, will enable me to ensure the continued success of our initiatives as well as seek new opportunities to better protect Atlanta’s animals.” Shaheen is the son of Doris and Shouky Shaheen, longtime Atlanta philanthropic leaders.
Shaheen continues his family’s philanthropic legacy when he takes over as president of one of the largest and oldest Humane organizations in the United States and one of the oldest not-for-profit organizations in Atlanta. With the opening of the 32,000-square foot Mansell campus in December, the Atlanta Humane Society will double in size and extend its reach north of Atlanta with the largest adoption and spay/neuter facility in North Fulton County. The new campus expects to track comparatively with the Howell Mill campus’ 5000 to 6000 adoptions and over 6000 spay/neuter surgeries completed annually.
“Currently, only 5% of adopters at the Howell Mill campus reside in North Fulton County,” states Shaheen. “We expect the activity at the new North Fulton campus, along with the expanded availability of the Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program and the Surgical Utility Vehicle, to make a significant impact on reducing the approximately 30,000 animals euthanized annually in the five-county metro Atlanta region.”
Atlanta Humane Society’s Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program offers $20 spay and neuter procedures every Saturday at the Howell Mill campus. In addition to training its veterinarians and veterinary technicians at a high-volume clinic in North Carolina, the organization plans to double its capacity by offering low-cost spay/neuter appointments on Friday starting in October. The Surgical Utility Vehicle also travels to outlying counties two days per week to provide a low cost spay/neuter option. The procedures are completed in the mobile surgical laboratory.
As a member of the Board, Shaheen led several initiatives for Atlanta Humane Society including:
- Advocating for expansion into the North Fulton community and chairing the site selection committee for the new campus;
- Serving on the building committee for the existing campus that renovated the adoption area and entrance and the large dog adoption kennel; and
- Petitioning to establish a dedicated spay/neuter clinic.
Once he takes office, Shaheen will remain focused on the organization’s core initiatives: facilitating adoptions, expanding outreach initiatives, increasing the Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program and ensuring the animal wellness clinic continues to provide services to animals in need.
Announcing his retirement earlier this year, Carl Leveridge will remain president until January, a position he has held since 2007.
“Over the past decade, William’s contributions to the Atlanta Humane Society have been marked with excellence in leadership,” states Leveridge. “He has adopted our mission as his coat of arms and expanded our vision to include new possibilities. I have no doubt that he will continue to bring value, focus and foresight to this preeminent not-for-profit organization.”
ABOUT ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY
Founded in 1873, the Atlanta Humane Society and Society For Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, Inc. is the oldest private non-profit animal welfare organization in Atlanta and one of the oldest humane agencies in America. Services such as adoptions, charitable veterinary clinic, low cost spay/neuter services, pet facilitated therapy, animal behavior training classes and canine play yards are possible by generous contributions of time and money from the public. The mission is to prevent the neglect, abuse, cruelty and exploitation of animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are fully, effectively and humanely protected by an aware and caring society. For more information about the Atlanta Humane Society, call 404-875-5331.