Local businesses unite for dogs with cancer

Heather Hunter (left) and Arron Stanton (right) of Synergize pose with Noelle Norwood and Mystica O’Connor of Fur the Brand at Synergize’s last 4:30 Meetup. (Reporter photo by Denise Moe)

By DENISE MOE

For the Reporter

For their latest 4:30 Meetup, Synergize, a Carmel group based on relationships, took the party to downtown Indianapolis. The group gathers at these meetups to build deep, real friendships and support a new nonprofit organization every month.

This month, Synergize supported Fur the Brand with over $2,300. Founded by Samantha McAfee, Fur the Brand helps cover veterinary bills for Indiana families in need whose dogs have been diagnosed with cancer.

McAfee’s inspiration for Fur the Brand came from her own dog, Valerie. While paying thousands of dollars for Valerie’s treatment, McAfee learned that families who can’t afford vet bills are forced to put their dogs to sleep after a cancer diagnosis. In just two years, Fur the Brand has helped more than 55 families treat their pets instead of euthanizing them.

The meetup was hosted by Kennected, a presenting partner of Synergize, at their headquarters. Kennected has been a supporter of Synergize since early 2020. The two companies share a desire to impact the community and build deep friendships between people.

“Devin [Johnson, CEO] and the rest of the team at Kennected are a huge inspiration to me personally, because their leadership also shares our commitment to changing the world through relationships,” Synergize Founder Arron Stanton.

The meetup’s impact sponsor was the Indiana Small Business Association (Indiana SBA), co-founded by Jon Slusser and Nathan Maude. The Indiana SBA provides small businesses with a network of trusted advisors in a variety of industries. It also creates spaces for small business owners to connect with and support each other.

Synergize and the Indiana SBA plan to partner on more initiatives in the future, including opportunities for their membership bases to connect.

“We think it’s awesome that there’s such a great resource for small businesses in our community,” Stanton said. “It’s an honor to get to support that.”

Synergize’s next 4:30 Meetup will benefit Providence Cristo Rey High School, a multicultural college and career preparatory school serving Indianapolis students with economic need. Fifty percent of nonmember ticket proceeds directly support the impact.

To get yours, or to learn more about how Synergize is changing the world through relationships, visit synergizeindy.com. To connect with Fur the Brand or get tickets for their upcoming event, Poochella, visit furthebrand.com.