Sydney Mollentine is the president and CEO of The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. She discovered her passion for animal welfare at 13 when volunteering at a local animal shelter. She found solace and purpose in caring for animals, a refuge from the bullying she endured at school. Homeschooled by her mother, a leader in the nonprofit sector, her curriculum was tailored around nonprofits and animal welfare, fostering her desire to learn everything about animals and shelters. Her early experiences taught her invaluable lessons, shaping her into the dedicated advocate she is today.
“I found refuge in being around animals,” says Mollentine. “Sitting with a scared animal and helping them build confidence and getting adopted taught me I can do hard things, too. It’s funny, when I look back on my childhood I find myself coming full circle—those animals taught me more about how to be brave and how to stand on my own two feet, and for years I thought I was teaching them. I guess you could say I was born to do this.”
Over the past ten years, she immersed herself in every aspect of animal sheltering, learning the importance of each role within a shelter and how they contribute to running a successful nonprofit.
“My favorite quote that I have lived by for decades is by Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” I often tell myself, and my team, when an animal comes to us broken, discarded, abused, or on the brink of death, it is normal to feel a sense of anger, sadness, frustration—we must remember, when an animal shows up at our doorstep beyond broken, it is often one the hardest of days for us, but it is most certainly the best of days for the animal. And that is why we show up every day. The work we do is truly changing the lives of thousands of animals so they can have a great life.”
In her current role, Mollentine serves the greater metropolitan area. This diverse community is united by a deep love for their pets. However, Kansas City is also one of the most underserved areas, with limited resources for affordable veterinary care and pet owner support. The Humane Society bridges this gap, providing essential care and resources to local pets in need.
Annually, the organization sees over 10,000 animals in its clinic, offering life saving vaccines, surgeries and emergency services. Since 1912, the Humane Society has been a constant presence in the community, committed to expanding its impact. Future plans include community outreach programs, a mobile veterinary clinic, and developing social work infrastructures to support the human-animal bond.
The upcoming Paws & Purrls Gala is set for later this year.
“Our Paws & Purrls Gala that will be held on Thursday, October 10th, 2024 at The Abbott, aims to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of pets we have helped as well as build support and donor funds to help us continue our mission into its next phase of growth and development. Our gala is vital to the success of our city and the people and pets within. We are the only resource available for thousands of residents, and the only affordable option for thousands more. Our organization is growing at a rapid pace and we are wanting to bring on supporters and sponsors whose philanthropic mission aligns with our values. Together, we can make our city the place people and pets want to be.”
"I found refuge in being around animals. Sitting with a scared animal and helping them build confidence taught me I can do hard things, too."