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About Us

Protecting Animals by Empowering Animal Support Organizations

Mission Statement

The mission of the Mary Jane Carvel Foundation is:

  • To provide animal cruelty awareness and
  • To give financial support 
to animal protection organizations that provide animal welfare services in Houston and the surrounding areas.
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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Staff Presenting Financial Aid to Houston Area Animal Protection Organization.
Picture of the founder of the Mary Jane Carvel Foundation, Mary Jane Carvel, surrounded by her beloved dogs

About the Founder

Mary Jane Welling Carvel was born on August 23, 1920. She was a colorful and vivacious personality and lived a long exciting and consequential life. She married Vincent Carvel in 1942. Unfortunately, Vincent died serving his country during WWII. Mary Jane never remarried and never had children. however, she loved her dogs, or “poochies,” as she lovingly referred to them. Her “poochies” were her children. She was also a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved as though they were her children. To them, she was lovingly known as “Aunt Janie”.

Mary Jane was a Houston socialite and was frequently seen around the Houston social scene at the Shamrock – the place to be “seen” in Houston at that time.

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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Staff Smiling at an Event

Board of Directors

Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Trustee, Sharon L. Michaels

Sharon L. Michaels

Trustee

Sharon L. Michaels, attorney at law, is the owner of her own…

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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation President, Joe Edd Nelson

Joe Edd Nelson

President

Native Houstonian and a proud Texan. He is a graduate of San…

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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Board Member and Treasurer, Dawn Meade

Dawn Meade

Treasurer

Dawn Meade, a native Houstonian, is a trial lawyer. She lives in…

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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Board Member Deborah Gaffney

Deborah Gaffney

Vice President

An American film, television and stage actor born in Ohio and now…

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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Board Member and Past President, Badiha Nassar

Badiha Nassar

Past President

Badiha Nassar moved to Houston in 1972 working in the field of…

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Mary Jane Carvel Foundation Board Member, Annette Dwyer

Annette Dwyer

At Large Reporter

Annette Dwyer is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, who has resided in…

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Cruelty Prevention

Of the numerous animal support and rescue organizations in Harris County and beyond, many are poorly funded. The lack of financial resources prohibits these organizations from assisting the multitude of abused and homeless animals in their charge.

The Mary Jane Carvel Foundation exists to conduct fundraising on behalf, and provide financial aid to, the underfunded animal support organizations in Houston and the surrounding areas.

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