Michelle Helms
Founder and President
Philadoptables’ President and founding member Michelle Helms began volunteering with Philadelphia’s homeless animals in 2007. At that time, most of the dogs and cats that entered the open-intake animal shelter did not leave alive. She recognized a great need, and founded Philadoptables in an effort to save more lives. She focuses on increasing adoptions, socializing animals and recruiting volunteers. Her goal is the transform the way animals are viewed in society: As valued companions, and beings worthy of kindness, respect and care.
Michelle and her husband Dave live in Bucks County and share their home with their many rescued senior dogs. Michelle is an HR professional and a Cum Laude Temple University graduate.
Diana Bauer
Vice President
Diana grew up with dogs and cats and has always loved animals! She started volunteering at ACCT in 2012. Diana assists with planning fundraisers for Philadoptables and networking with other rescue groups. One of Diana’s main passions is for helping community cats. Community cats are stray cats that live outside. Diana assists with trapping these cats and getting them spayed and neutered so they are not contributing to the overpopulation of homeless animals.
Diana lives in Allentown PA with her sweet lab mix rescue pup Andi and her mischievous orange cat Nash. Diana also fosters kittens and cats through a rescue in the Lehigh Valley. She graduated from West Chester University in 2005 and works as an underwriter for an insurance company.
Kim Padley
Treasurer
Kim has loved animals as long as she can remember. She was raised in a house that always had dogs and cats, and trips to the local SPCA to “just visit” were a frequent occurence. In 4th grade she raised a baby raccoon for six months after the raccoon’s mother was hit by a car. By the time she was in 6th grade she had 2 gerbils, 2 hamsters, 2 parakeets, 2 zebra finches, and 2 African tree frogs all living in her room.
In 2014 she started fostering and volunteering for Diamonds in the Ruff Rescue. Over the past several years she has volunteered with other rescue organizations (and Philadoptables!) by fostering, transporting, raising money, and providing accounting assistance. Kim’s favorite type of dogs are big dogs with big block heads; the true Philly Underdog.
Kim lives in Springfield Delaware County with her son Garrett and her rescue dog Lily. She graduated with an Accounting degree from Old Dominion University; where she also played lacrosse. In her spare time Kim enjoys gardening and the beach, and is a member of the sailing crew on the Kalmar Nyckel, the tall ship of Delaware.
Philadoptables would like to thank our former Board Members — Jeanie Dougherty, Christa Policella, Marta Gambone, John Witherspoon, Hannah Gehrke, Dave Cruise, Sandy Boyle, and Ali Swiatkowski — for their contribution to the ongoing success of Philadoptables.
