Rumble for Rescues places robots within the boxing ring for trigger

Weighing in at 90 kilos, robotic Red took the ring towards robotic Gold. For the following a number of minutes, the duo proceeded to kick, punch and fluidly fight within the caged ring till one was finally declared the winner.

The robot-boxing occasion, Rumble for Rescue, was organized by San Clemente-based Sonance Cares, the philanthropic arm of longtime tech firm Sonance. While tailor-made for leisure, the occasion’s overarching objective was elevating funds for 3 nonprofits that assist rescue animals.

Themed “The Matrix” meets cyberpunk the May 30 occasion, situated at an outside venue within the Los Molinos District of San Clemente, has up to now raised $500,000 (donations are nonetheless being processed) by means of its silent public sale and paddle elevating.

Four robots owned and operated by San Francisco-based REK (Robot Entertainment Kombat) participated within the combat. Also, Bob the Robot, Sonance Cares’ humanoid native philanthropy ambassador, walked round to entertain visitors forward of the primary occasion.

“One thing I have always loved is creating experiences that people remember,” mentioned Scott Struthers, Sonance co-founder and the creator of Sonance Cares. “I think sometimes philanthropy gets put into a very traditional box. People think of a ballroom, a dinner and an auction. Those things are great, but we wanted to ask: ‘How do we create something that makes people excited to show up?’

“The idea behind Rumble for Rescue was bringing together innovation, technology, entertainment and purpose,” he continued. “Robot fighting is fun. It gets people talking. It creates energy. But behind that excitement is something much more important, helping animals who need medical care, safe homes and a second chance. The robots might be fighting in the ring, but the real fighters are the organizations doing this work every single day.”

The three organizations benefiting from the occasion embrace Pet Project Foundation, the nonprofit rescue associate of the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter, which raises 100% of the funds wanted to maintain the shelter no-kill; Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets, which focuses on rescue, rehabilitation and adoption; and Furever Family Non-profit Veterinary Care, which helps forestall undesirable animal pregnancies with low-cost spay and neuter procedures.

“We wanted to support organizations that looked at animal welfare from different angles,” Struthers mentioned. “Rescue is complicated. It isn’t just about finding animals homes, it’s about prevention, medical care, rehabilitation, shelter support and keeping families together.”

Cindy Dobbins, president of Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets, mentioned her group was honored to take part within the occasion.

“The support from Rumble for Rescue/Sonance Cares strengthens our rescue efforts in a very real way,” she mentioned. “It helps us cover medical care, spay/neuter, vaccines, emergency treatment and the daily needs of the dogs we take in. This kind of support gives us the ability to say yes to more animals who need help — especially the ones who require immediate or specialized care — and to give them the chance to receive safety, healing and eventually a loving home.”

She mentioned one of many added advantages of the occasion was the networking alternatives it offered.

“One of the unexpected gifts of this event was the people we met,” Dobbins mentioned. “The connections we made at Rumble for Rescue are truly invaluable, and we hope they grow into long‑lasting relationships that continue to support the work we do and the animals we serve.”

Heidi Muther, govt director of the board for the Pet Project Foundation, mentioned her group’s partnership with Sonance Cares started six years in the past when the nonprofit discovered Struthers was very enthusiastic about animal rescues.

“We contacted Sonance Cares and after they toured our local San Clemente-Dana Point no-kill shelter, they became incredible supporters of Pet Project Foundation and our quest to save as many animals as possible. They also have been extremely generous contributors to our largest fundraising event each September at our PPF Gala,” she mentioned.

Pet Project Foundation is 100% donor-supported and completely volunteer-run, so each greenback donated goes immediately again to their no-kill shelter and the animals of their care, Muther identified.

“The donations provide spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, nutritious food, microchips, medications and any emergency medical treatment needed to save our animals,” she mentioned. “Donations also assist us with our ARM (A Rescue Mission) program, where we travel to other over-crowded, high-kill shelters monthly and transfer animals who are at risk of being euthanized back to our shelter.

“We rehab, train and socialize these animals, dedicating all our resources to help them get adopted into their forever homes. We have rescued over 3,000 animals from the ARM Program alone and have saved over 20,000 animals in the last 42 years of our existence.”

Struthers mentioned Sonance Cares, which launched in 2022, is targeted round 4 key pillars: individuals, planet, animals and communities. He mentioned that by means of Sonance Cares, and him personally, greater than 30 nonprofits have been supported, together with Rady Children’s Hospital, Friendship Shelter, Cinderella’s Closet OC, Boys & Girls Clubs, RX3 Foundation, XPRIZE, Unconditional Rescue, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, San Clemente Lifeguard & Junior Guard Foundation and Family Assistance Ministries.

“On the animal and conservation side, we have helped support organizations working to protect wildlife, rescue animals and create a healthier future for our planet, including efforts connected to the Ocean Institute, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Oceana, CARMA, Project3R and other rescue and conservation partners,” he mentioned.

“But what has always mattered most to me isn’t the size of the organization, it’s the impact. Some of the most meaningful work happens through smaller nonprofits where a little bit of support can completely change what they are able to accomplish.”

Animal conservation is so vital to Struthers that he created his personal nonprofit to guard elephants, Elephant Cooperation, which is marking its tenth anniversary this yr.

“When I was young, I had the opportunity to travel to Africa with my father, who was a biologist,” he mentioned. “Those trips shaped me. I saw these incredible landscapes, wildlife and especially elephants in a way that stayed with me my entire life. Years later, I returned to Africa with my own daughter, and I expected to share those same experiences with her. But the Africa I returned to was different.”

With habitats shrinking and human-wildlife battle rising, Struthers noticed an amazing want.

“I realized protecting elephants couldn’t just be about elephants,” he mentioned. “If the people living next to wildlife are struggling, conservation will never succeed. That’s why we created Elephant Cooperation, with the belief that humans and wildlife have to find ways to coexist. Our mission became cooperate to coexist.”

Elephant Cooperation will host its “Anti-Gala — Party for a Purpose” on Oct. 17 in San Clemente. The following day, on Oct. 18, Sonance Cares will host Day of the Kids, additionally in San Clemente — a free, family-friendly occasion that can deal with bringing the group collectively to help youngsters and households in want.

“The Anti-Gala represents exactly what we believe philanthropy should be: bringing people together, creating unforgettable experiences and using that energy to make a real difference,” Struthers mentioned. “Whether it is protecting elephants in Africa or supporting communities here at home through Sonance Cares, the mission is the same — use what you have, give what you can and leave the world better than you found it.”