Justine Bronfin

Last October, she was just one of two high school girls looking

for a way to help homeless animals. Today, she’s cofounder of a

campus charity and organizer of a fund-raiser featuring the KIIS-FM

Street Team.

Justine Bronfin co-founded Corona del Mar High School’s Club Care

and helped organize the auction to raise money for the Irvine Animal

Shelter. Justine, 16, and friend Marissa Mandala, 15, started Club Care after volunteering at the shelter for some time.

“We both love animals so much and we wanted to do something for

them,” Justine said. “At the shelter, we take them out of the cages

and walk them and play with them and brighten their days. It’s so

wonderful when they finally get adopted and you get to see them walk

out of the gate. They’ll turn their head to look back one more time;

then they just race out because they’re so happy to have a home.”

One of Club Care’s top priorities is raising awareness about

“puppy mills” -- a term used to describe some animal breeders who, in

their pursuit of a profit, create unpleasant living conditions for

dogs and puppies.

“The best way to not contribute to the puppy mill problem is to

adopt a dog from a shelter instead of buying one at a store,” said

Justine, quickly touting her mixed-breed terrier Mickey as evidence

that “shelter dogs are better, anyway.”

Justine enlisted the help of the KIIS-FM Street Team after reading

about the team on the radio station’s Web site. Students who purchase

auction items like theme park tickets, gift baskets, gourmet

chocolates and lunch for two at a local bakery and restaurant will

also get free KIIS-FM merchandise to sweeten the deal.

The auction is Club Care’s second fund-raiser. Late last year, the

group earned about $180 for the shelter by selling candy.

“It’s just our way of trying to make a difference for all those

dogs and cats out there,” she said. “Animals can brighten our day in

so many different ways. We need to show them that we’re grateful for

everything they bring to our lives.”

-- Story by June Casagrande