Daily Inspiration: Meet Marie Buquicchio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Buquicchio.

Hi Marie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a special education teacher at Youngker High School in Buckeye. I love teaching, but my real passion is animals, in particular, saving them! So, I combined the two and created “Hands 4 Paws,” a club that revolves around animals. The students learn about the conservation efforts of different organizations for various species, for example, the Wolf Conservation Center in NY and their efforts to save wolves. We go into rescues and shelters and volunteer our time. The kids do whatever work is needed on the grounds and work with the animals directly when possible. We host a lot of fundraisers so that we can give that money back to the animal community. Additionally, we go on field trips involving animals to expose the kids to different species. I have been sponsoring this club for 5 years, and it keeps getting bigger and better!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect? Has it been a smooth road?
SMOOTH ROAD? no! A lot of people do not understand what we do or why. Trying to justify what we do and stand for has been challenging sometimes, but it still IS SOMETIMES.  However, I am ORIGINALLY a NYer and do not get easily dissuaded! I have always followed my heart, and this is where my heart is. ALTHOUGH , it has NOT ALWAYS been easy, I do get the support of some great organizations. For example, Chick-fil-A, Portillo’s, and Whataburger are big supporters of our efforts. They always donate to the events I approach them with! I would love to give them a big shoutout for their constant support. I love how these organizations know they are part of a community and must give back! It is excellent for the kids to see that, too. Teaching this generation to love ~ or at least respect animals, wildlife in particular, is the only way to save them!

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Although I am a special education teacher, I am most “known” for my love of animals. The campus knows me as the “animal lady” (among other things!) My room is an animal lover’s paradise, with pictures everywhere, stuffed animals, and even a “club pet,” our bearded dragon, Jake. I am super proud of my kids; they work hard, sacrifice unselfishly to give back to the animal community, and never complain about what is asked of them. What sets me apart isn’t me at all; it is my kids. Most clubs/teams that raise money do so with the intention of that money going to the student either for a trip or uniform, etc. However, my kids raise money knowing they will never see it. They do so knowing it will be donated to some organization that supports animals. And they do it willingly and happily! They love being a part of something bigger than themselves. They love being able to present a check to an organization. They especially love it when we buy items to donate, and they get to disperse them to the animals themselves. The kids have also learned to stop and help strays they see. One of our greatest success stories came just this past spring. It is a great example of how the club and community work together.

On January 7, after a field trip to the SW Wildlife Conservation Center, the kids saw a stray dog outside our school parking lot. As I left, I saw that they were trying to get the dog to come to them. To make a long story short, she finally surrendered to us after an hour of trying. We posted her picture on various sites, knocked on doors, and walked around with her for hours. No one claimed her. She accidentally ended up in the shelter due to a miscommunication with the people who scanned her for a chip. We were so upset when we learned she was there; we knew we had to get her out. I contacted a community business partner, Andy Lolmaugh, from Sundance Golf Club. I knew he had been contemplating adopting a dog, so I asked if he could help us get her out. He planned to hold onto her until we found her a permanent home. However, he fell in love with her (no surprise!) and adopted her. She (Dani) now has a great home and greets everyone at the golf course. It is our greatest success story. The kids especially love that they get to see Dani; we host our annual golf outing fundraiser there. The next one is March 9, 2024. (save the date!) Not only did Mr. Lolmaugh help us by adopting Dani, but he always donated to our golf outing, in addition to helping us sponsor it. The staff there is amazing and helpful! Kenny, Ron, and Susan go above and beyond to help us yearly. So, we would like to thank the Sundance Golf Course for its continued support. Dani’s happy ending is due to the diligence of my kids’ efforts to get her off the street that afternoon! They are compassionate, giving kids ~ What sets me apart is working with these amazing young people!

We’d love to hear about your fond memories from growing up.
My favorite childhood memory is playing games with my family. We were a tight-knit family that goes beyond my nuclear family and into my extended family. I am one of 35 (blood) first cousins on my dad’s side. We used to get together all the time for family picnics, dinners, vacations, etc. All the love and fun we shared was amazing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: YHSHands4Paws
• Facebook: facebook.com/hands4paws
• Twitter: Hands4PawsYHS