Jun. 23, 2025
Kylie’s Kitten Fund raises nearly $19,000 for Young-Williams Animal Center
Young-Williams Animal Center received a donation of $18,905 from Kylie’s Kitten Fund to provide critical care, nourishment and medical treatment to hundreds of vulnerable kittens.
The donation stemmed from a community-driven fundraising campaign led by the Kylie Roberto Foundation, which ran March 15-May 31. The campaign honored the late Kylie Roberto, a beloved young woman remembered for her compassion, creativity and deep love for animals.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Kylie Roberto Foundation and everyone who contributed to Kylie’s Kitten Fund,” Young-Williams Animal Center CEO Janet Testerman says. “This generous gift will make a lifesaving difference for so many kittens in need and is a beautiful tribute to Kylie’s legacy.”
In 2024, Young-Williams Animal Center spent more than $137,000 caring for 1,580 kittens. The campaign, timed in the spring when an influx of litters of homeless kittens arrive at the shelter, will help ensure that Young-Williams Animal Center can continue to provide much-needed kitten care during the busy spring and summer months.
The Kylie Roberto Foundation was established in memory of Roberto, who passed away in April 2024 at the age of 21 in a car accident. The foundation supports causes close to her heart, including animal welfare, the arts and education. She was the daughter of Knoxville City Councilman Andrew Roberto.
“Because of the generosity of our community, Kylie’s kindness and love for animals will continue in every kitten helped” Andrew Roberto said. “We are grateful for everyone who donated to Kylie’s Kitten Fund and have helped spread Kylie’s kindness.”
Visit young-williams.org/kylie to learn more about Kylie’s Kitten Fund or to contribute to ongoing efforts.
About Young-Williams Animal Center
The vision of Young-Williams Animal Center is “a home for every pet.” It is the municipal shelter of the City of Knoxville and Knox County, and each year takes in more than 11,000 animals.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Young-Williams Animal Center serves the needs of lost, unwanted, abandoned and neglected animals. The center’s mission is to lead the community to end pet homelessness, promote animal welfare and enhance the human-animal bond through the shelter and placement of animals, spay/neuter initiatives and public education of companion animal issues. Young-Williams Animal Center reminds pet owners to spay and neuter their pets.
Young-Williams Animal Center’s main facility is located off Sutherland Avenue at 3201 Division Street. Young-Williams Animal Village satellite adoption location and public spay/neuter program is located at 6400 Kingston Pike.
Both locations are open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The shelter closes from 1-2 p.m. for an hour of quiet time for the animals. For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, call 865-215-6599 or visit https://www.young-williams.org/.
