Pasadena Humane Society receives record-setting $5M donation

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA received a record-setting donation of $5 million, left behind by a late animal lover and longtime Southland businessman.

According to a news release from the shelter, the donation was left by the estate of Jaromir Strizka, who died this March at the age of 95.

In commemoration of this donation, which is the largest the shelter has ever received in its 113-year history, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA will rename its animal shelter after Strizka.

"We are so proud to name our Animal Shelter wing for Jaromr Strizka," said Carol Kirby, chairman of the Pasadena Humane Society board of directors, in the news release. "Because of his generosity to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, animals locally will benefit directly from his giving."

Strizka founded the Studio City-based European Crafts, Inc., a whole sale musical instrument and supply store, in 1953 and ran the business until 2014. He fled his homeland of what is now the Czech Republic after World War II and moved to the U.S. to start a new life in Hollywood in 1953.

According to the shelter, Strizka regularly donated to several animal welfare organizations. He had a lifelong respect for animals with a special love of cats.

Shelter officials said Strizka's donation will be used toward animal care, shelter services and programs like pet adoption, humane education, animal control and public spay-neuter services.

The shelter takes in nearly 12,000 animals each year.