SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — VINE Sanctuary, a Springfield-based animal sanctuary, has been selected as a winner of the 2024 Spirit of ADA Award by the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD). This esteemed award honors businesses that exemplify the values of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by promoting inclusive hiring, training, and retention of people with disabilities.
VINE Sanctuary, nominated by Jennifer Stagg of the Vermont Association of Business, Industry, and Rehabilitation (VABIR), was recognized for its commitment to creating equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Spirit of ADA Award is part of the GCEPD’s mission to foster partnerships between businesses, government, and people with disabilities, and to promote equal employment for all Vermont citizens.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this award,” said Cheryl Wyle of VINE Sanctuary. “At VINE, we are committed to creating a place that is a sanctuary to all individuals, including visitors, staff, and residents, and this recognition encourages us to continue our efforts.”
The award will be officially presented at a ceremony in October in recognition of Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about disability employment issues and celebrating the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities.
VINE Sanctuary, located in Springfield, VT, is a farmed animal sanctuary that works for social and environmental justice and animal liberation. The solar-powered sanctuary, the first to rehabilitate roosters used in cockfighting, is currently home to over 500 residents. The founders of
VINE Sanctuary first met while working on a campaign to protect the housing rights of people with disabilities, making this award especially meaningful to its mission and history.
For more information about VINE Sanctuary, visit its website at www.vinesanctuary.org.
