A high-profile effort to raise funds to support Whitewater youth programs is nearing its end in hopes of raising at least $10,000 to fund annual scholarships and contribute to other Kiwanis funded projects like an effort to replace porta-potties at a heavily used youth soccer facility.

It might seem ambitious that a Pet Photo Contest could generate that level of fundraising, but the effort is well underway as it moves into the critical public voting stage.

To date over 60 area pets have been entered into the contest, which ends Sunday, October 25. Friends, family and pet lovers have already raised over $3000 by votes requiring as little as a $1 contribution.

“It’s a way for small individual contributions to add up to make a big impact in our long-running Kiwanis efforts to support youth here and around the world,” according to Whitewater Kiwanis President Corey Davis.

The long-running professional fund-raising advisor to non-profit organizations that handles the local contest’s safe and protected contributions advises that the “accelerated voting” phase that the contest is now in will be critical to the success of the fundraiser.

The families and friends of the contest entries, which are still being accepted, will be encouraged to compete to be one of 12 prize winners sharing well over $1000 in prizes. The 12 pets with the most votes will also each be featured on the cover of one of the months of a 2027 Kiwanis Top Pet Photo calendar going on sale in December.

Your vote, even if you don’t have a photo entered, can make a big difference with a small contribution. Visit www.gogophotocontest.com/whitewater. Entries include a mini horse, several birds, an adorable bunny, a pooch dressed in patriotic apparel and lots of area dogs and cats that you might recognize.