2026 Compassion Award – Charles Barker Automotive
The Compassion Award is presented each year to an individual, company, or group that reflects the Virginia Beach SPCA’s commitment to animals not only inside the shelter, but throughout the community.
In 2026, that recognition is proudly awarded to Charles Barker Automotive. Their leadership and generosity have helped the Wags & Whiskers Gala grow and have supported the VBSPCA’s lifesaving work.
A Lifelong Connection to Animals
For Lexie Barker-Taplett, co-owner of Charles Barker Automotive, caring for animals has always been a core value.
“Some of my earliest memories are tied to the joy and comfort they brought to our family. There was never a time when animals didn’t feel like a natural part of our everyday life.”
Over the years, she says, animals have taught her family loyalty, empathy, and unconditional love. They have grounded them during stressful periods and reinforced the responsibilities that come with caring for those who depend on us.
Today, that bond continues with Koda, the Yellow Lab she and her husband adopted from another local shelter just over three years ago. He brings comfort, joy, and balance to their daily routine, along with more laughs than they can count. As she says, he’s truly part of the family.
From First Gala to Meaningful Partnership
The Barker family first learned about the VBSPCA at the 2022 Wags & Whiskers Gala. Friends who often supported the event encouraged them to attend, and it became a turning point for them.
That evening made a strong impression. What started as a simple fundraiser visit soon became an ongoing commitment to the mission.
Charles Barker Automotive was the Presenting Sponsor of the Wags & Whisker Gala in 2022 and 2023. Their leadership has helped the event grow as the organization’s main fundraiser. They have also led the way as top paddle-raise donors, inspiring others to support the animals.
One moment stands out most to Lexie each year:
“Seeing hands go up across the room as our community rallies behind such an important cause is incredibly powerful. It’s a reminder of how much good can happen when a community comes together around a shared mission.”
In 2025, she strengthened her commitment by serving as co-chair of the Gala Committee. This was another way to support an organization that her family believes in.
A Recognition That Reflects Shared Values
What continues to inspire the Barker family is the VBSPCA’s dedication to protecting animals who need a second chance.
“They don’t just care for animals. They advocate for them, protect them, and give them a second chance.”
Receiving the Compassion Award is deeply meaningful to her.
“To be recognized by an organization like the VBSPCA, which truly shows compassion in action, is an honor our family does not take lightly. We’re proud to stand with the VBSPCA and grateful to play even a small role in helping animals get the care, protection, and second chances they deserve.”
Charles Barker Automotive is being recognized this year, but behind that recognition is a family whose commitment to giving back continues to make a meaningful difference for animals in our community.
February 2026 Compassion in The Community
Love is in the air this February, and it’s all for VBSPCA! Check out all that’s happening this month!
Valentine Pet Photos
Laura Bateman Photography donated $25 to VBSPCA from each Valentine’s pet portrait sold. Click Here to Sign Up!
Shelter Pet Valentines
Virtual activity: create a cat or dog valentine. This fun, hands-on activity is perfect for celebrating creativity, love, and our furry friends.
Click Here to Participate!
Virginia Living Cutest Pet Contest – Submissions Open
A fun, free pet contest powered by social media engagement, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Virginia Beach SPCA.
Submit Your Pet Here!
February 4,11,18, 25 : Tale for Two
Pairs young readers (age 6-13) with shelter animals to build confidence, provide comfort, and make reading a fun, rewarding experience for both kids and pets.
Sign Up Here!
February 23 : Fur-ever Friends Kids Night In
Valentine themed evening is designed just for children ages 6–11 and includes dinner*, hands-on activities, and the opportunity to meet an adoptable animal! Kids will enjoy
games, crafts, and animal-themed fun in a safe, supervised environment.
Sign Up Here!
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.
Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.
Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.
Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.
Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more.
Become a Loyal Life Saver
As a Loyal Lifesaver, you provide dependable support to the more than 1,800 homeless animals cared for by the Virginia Beach SPCA each year. Your monthly gift can be applied to the area of greatest need across the shelter or focused on the Miracle Medical Fund, which covers the cost of veterinary care for all shelter animals.
The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.
Leadership Update: Celebrating Derby Brackett and Looking Ahead
Dear Friends of VBSPCA,
After more than eight impactful years leading the Virginia Beach SPCA and strengthening the organization, our Chief Executive Officer, Derby Brackett has shared her plans to retire this year. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend our deepest gratitude for her tireless dedication, strategic leadership, and unwavering passion for our mission and the animals and people we serve.
Since stepping into the Interim CEO role in 2018 and subsequently serving as CEO, Derby has laid a strong and enduring foundation of excellence for the organization. Her leadership has been marked by compassion, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to values-based decision-making. Under her tenure, the VBSPCA has achieved significant milestones, including:
- Building a culture of empowered, empathetic, skilled, and deeply committed team members
- Growing and prioritizing the organization’s budget and overall capacity for care to support long-term sustainability and community impact
- Expanding access to high-quality, low-cost veterinary clinic services, helping keep pets healthy and in loving homes
- Increasing the visibility of the importance of the animal-human bond through greater collaboration with animal welfare partners and supporters throughout Hampton Roads
As we navigate this transition, there is much to celebrate. We hope you will join us at our annual Wags & Whiskers Gala on Saturday, April 11, at the Marriott Oceanfront Resort, where we will honor Derby’s leadership and legacy.
Looking ahead with confidence, I am pleased to share that the Board has convened a Search Committee and engaged LeaderFit, a nationally respected executive search firm dedicated to mission-driven organizations, to lead a thoughtful, inclusive, and strategic search in the coming weeks. The Board—and Derby—remain deeply committed to ensuring strong, values-aligned leadership and to advancing the mission with the same momentum, integrity, and compassion that define the VBSPCA today.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we honor Derby’s remarkable service and move forward together.
Interested applicants may apply here.
Warm regards,
Angie Lombardi
Board Chair, VBSPCA
January 2026 Compassion in the Community
Ring in the New Year with more tail wags, here are all the ways you can support the VBSPCA
Mid Atlantic Home & Outdoor Show
Join us on January 17th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mid-Atlantic Home & Outdoor Show! We’ll have a table set up to share our mission and you’ll get to meet some adoptable dogs.
Lucky Oyster – Scarlett’s Tails of Joy
For every Seared Scarlett Snapper sold, $1 will be donated to Scarlett’s Tails of Joy in support of the Virginia Beach SPCA
Kendra Scott Give Back Event
Join us on February 5 from 5–7 PM at the Kendra Scott store in Lynnhaven Mall. When you mention VBSPCA at checkout, you’ll receive 20% off your purchase, and 20% of proceeds will be donated to support VBSPCA.
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.
JustGiving
The Virginia Beach SPCA is teaming up with JustGiving to support peer-to-peer fundraising
initiatives. Click here to set up a fundraiser for the VBSPCA today. Have questions about the platform? Send an email to donations@vbspca.com.
Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.
Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.
Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.
Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more.
Become a Loyal Life Saver
As a Loyal Lifesaver, you provide dependable support to the more than 1,800 homeless animals cared for by the Virginia Beach SPCA each year. Your monthly gift can be applied to the area of greatest need across the shelter or focused on the Miracle Medical Fund, which covers the cost of veterinary care for all shelter animals.
The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.
Letter from the CEO
Wishing all the best for the new year while remembering the impact of 2025…
This past year has been one of incredible change for our organization, all designed to keep in step with the needs of our community and their animals. While our mission to eliminate animal suffering and increase human compassion stayed constant, the work done to accomplish this was refreshed, reviewed, and even reinvented for stronger results.
This reinvention began with the full operation of our expanded clinic. The increase in spaces demanded more staffing, greater expertise, improved technology and equipment, and teamwork in harmony to produce quality results. All were in play to meet the growth in demand from our pet owners for accessible, affordable care. We have used the second installment from our PetSmart Charities Accelerator grant to focus on effective and efficient staffing and compensation, combined with advanced continuing education to keep the talent pool best equipped to serve the most important needs of the animals. We will continue to focus on these areas with our final grant installment for 2026.
The medical care extends to our shelter animals and provides the healthiest adoption candidates possible. With a fresh perspective in our shelter leadership, protocols and methodologies have been updated to meet today’s shelter environment. The difficult nature of sheltering and caring for homeless animals was more apparent in 2025 than in recent years. The economic and emotional factors that drove intakes up also affected the number of adoptions. The shelter teams worked diligently to create pathways for second chances even when the obstacles were tough. Our focus on medical care, enrichment, foster options, and solid animal welfare expertise welcomed over 17,000 people through our doors and helped find solutions or connections for close to 2,000 animals.
Our strategic plan for 2026-2028 was created with strong, innovative input from all areas of leadership and our board of directors. There is a pragmatic operational vision in conjunction with stretch goals for the sustainability and success of our business—not just our mission. Growth is inevitable as the community need is never stagnant, but controlled growth is the stabilizer for our nonprofit initiatives. Operating on a zero-based budget is mandatory. The renewed focus on outreach and structure of our development and marketing teams is a clear example of reviewing the current state and building for an improved future state. For 2026, we will ask more of our leadership to guide the business through multiple channels while controlling expenses with intentional, impactful solutions. It’s a balancing act and I feel strongly we have the team that can be successful in their outcomes.
The wins of the year also include the change in venue of our Wags and Whiskers Gala to the Marriott Oceanfront with a return this year on April 11th; a sold out, fun-filled Puttin’ for Paws Golf tournament; a new fully equipped Neuter Scooter to be delivered in the first quarter of 2026, allowing us to reach more animals throughout Hampton Roads more safely; six new board members to help guide the organization and be voices for our mission; successful donor interactions throughout the year culminating in a fabulous donor appreciation event at the Breeden home in December; and the retention of dedicated staff through a renewed focus on a positive culture and continuous learning. Teamwork starts at the top here and extends throughout the organization; sharing what we know ensures success.
As we close the 2025 year, it is important to recognize that the greatest wins are those that involve our four-legged friends—whether adoption, behavior counseling, healing, or rescue—we exist to do our work because the cause is simple: they NEED us.
As we enter 2026, we know that change is constant, the future unknown, the care never stops. But we can enter 2026 with the grace that gives each of us the spirit and energy to serve a purpose greater than ourselves. That is my intention.
With a grateful heart
-Derby
Happy Holidays! Here are some ways you can help support the furry friends at the Virginia Beach SPCA.
Home For the Holidays
Starting December 1st Priority Automotive is paying half of the adoption fees of every
Canine and Feline adopted from the VBSPCA. This promotion is automatically applied when you adopt an animal and last until December 31st or when funds run out.
Holiday Tribute Gifts
During the months of November and December donate in honor of someone special and receive a greeting card insert that makes the perfect holiday gift. This holiday season, give a gift to animals in need. https://vbspca.com/honors-and-memorials/
Holiday Tale for Two
On Wednesday, December 17th join us for our Tale for Two but with a Holiday twist. During our Holiday Tale for Two children will have a holiday tale read to them, meet a couple of shelter animals, and make treats for themselves and the shelter animals.Sign up here: https://vbspca.com/a-tale-for-two/.
Holiday Elf
Give an adoptable shelter animal a much deserved break from the shelter, and you receive all the holiday snuggles you could ask for! We are asking families to take home one of our shelter animals from Dec. 23rd through Dec. 27th. Email foster@vbspca.com to sign up, and our staff will pair you with the perfect furry friend!
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.
JustGiving
The Virginia Beach SPCA is teaming up with JustGiving to support peer-to-peer fundraising
initiatives. Click here to set up a fundraiser for the VBSPCA today. Have questions about the platform? Send an email to donations@vbspca.com.
Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.
Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.
Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.
Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more.
Become a Loyal Life Saver
As a Loyal Lifesaver, you provide dependable support to the more than 1,800 homeless animals cared for by the Virginia Beach SPCA each year. Your monthly gift can be applied to the area of greatest need across the shelter or focused on the Miracle Medical Fund, which covers the cost of veterinary care for all shelter animals.
The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.
November 2025 Compassion in the Community
The holidays are just around the corner! Here are some ways you can help support the furry friends at the Virginia Beach SPCA.
Checkered Flag Promo
Starting November 6th until November 20th, 50% of adoption and medical fees for adult cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies. Plus 100% off adoption fees for senior cats and dogs for Adopt a Senior Pet Month.
Holiday Tribute Gifts
During the months of November and December donate in honor of someone special and receive a greeting card insert that makes the perfect holiday gift. This holiday season, give a gift to animals in need. https://vbspca.com/honors-and-memorials/
Winter Wonderland Kids Night In – Friday, December 12th
Young animal lovers are invited to join us on November 15th for a fun night here at the VBSPCA. From 6-9 pm the children will get to experience an educational evening including crafts, games, dinner, and the opportunity to meet some of our adoptable animals. You can sign up for this event here https://vbspca.com/kids-night-in/.
Giving Tuesday – December 2nd
Support the VBSPCA on the biggest fundraising event of the year! Giving Tuesday takes place on December 2nd. Our goal is to raise $20,000 on this international day of giving. Your donations make second chances possible for homeless animals. You can make a donation by either going to the VBSPCA Facebook page, Instagram page, heading over to our website https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bsguiz or stopping by our shelter.
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.
Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.
Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.
Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.
Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more.
Become a Loyal Life Saver
As a Loyal Lifesaver, you provide dependable support to the more than 1,800 homeless animals cared for by the Virginia Beach SPCA each year. Your monthly gift can be applied to the area of greatest need across the shelter or focused on the Miracle Medical Fund, which covers the cost of veterinary care for all shelter animals. Sign up to become a Loyal Lifesaver.
The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.
Compassion in the Community August 2025
Celebrate August by finding meaningful ways to support the VBSPCA this month.
VBSPCA Puttin’ For Paws
The 2025 VBSPCA Puttin’ for Paws Charity Golf Tournament will once again take place Friday, October 3rd. This event is more than just a day on the greens, it is a great opportunity to showcase your business. While we are sold out for foursome we have a few sponsorship opportunities available. Click here for more information.
Pet Personality Contest
Show off your pet’s winning personality with the Virginia Beach SPCA’s Pet Personality Photo Contest! From silly to serious, active to couch potatoes, share your furry friend in their element for a chance to win a custom piece of artwork of your pet. Once you’ve entered, be sure to share the contest with your friends and family so they can cast their votes. Best of all, proceeds will benefit the homeless animals of the VBSPCA.
25% Off Microchips!
This month, keep your pet safe and save money! We’re offering 25% off microchip services at our clinic throughout August.
Visit vbspca.com/clinic to learn more and schedule your appointment today!
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.
Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.
Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.
Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.
Become a Loyal Life Saver
As a Loyal Lifesaver, you provide dependable support to the more than 1,800 homeless animals cared for by the Virginia Beach SPCA each year. Your monthly gift can be applied to the area of greatest need across the shelter or focused on the Miracle Medical Fund, which covers the cost of veterinary care for all shelter animals.
Support the VBSPCA through a Pampered Chef fundraiser! Up to 15% of sales come directly to us, and our consultant donates half their commission back, using the rest for participant gifts. Orders ship straight to you, and proceeds go directly to the VBSPCA to help animals in need!
Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more.
The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.
Compassion in the Community – July 2025
July is here, and so are all the amazing ways you can support the VBSPCA this month, let’s make it a summer of compassion!
Bubba’s 33 – Dine to Donate
Dine at Bubba’s 33 on July 24 and present this flyer to support the Virginia Beach SPCA. Bubba’s 33 will generously donate 10% of their proceeds to help our cause.
VBSPCA Puttin’ For Paws
The 2025 VBSPCA Puttin’ for Paws Charity Golf Tournament will once again take place Friday, October 3rd. This event is more than just a day on the greens, it is a great opportunity to showcase your business. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Click here to learn more.
Little Learners – TCC/Joint Use Library – July 21st
Join the VBSPCA for its newest humane education offering, Little Learners. Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us at the TCC/Joint Use Library on Monday June 9th from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. to learn about kindness, compassion, and empathy through stories and activities. Participants will also meet a small animal. A donation of $5 is suggested to attend with all proceeds going back to our shelter. Click here to learn more and sign up.
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.
Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.
Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.
Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.
Become a Loyal Life Saver
As a Loyal Lifesaver, you provide dependable support to the more than 1,800 homeless animals cared for by the Virginia Beach SPCA each year. Your monthly gift can be applied to the area of greatest need across the shelter or focused on the Miracle Medical Fund, which covers the cost of veterinary care for all shelter animals.
Support the VBSPCA through a Pampered Chef fundraiser! Up to 15% of sales come directly to us, and our consultant donates half their commission back, using the rest for participant gifts. Orders ship straight to you, and proceeds go directly to the VBSPCA to help animals in need!
Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more.
The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.
Annual Sponsors
Posted: February 18, 2026 by vbspcaadmin
2026 Lifesaver Award – Derby Brackett
Each year, the Lifesaver Award honors someone who has made a real difference for animal well-being through outstanding dedication, support, and generosity to the Virginia Beach SPCA and the many animals and people it helps.
In 2026, the award goes to retiring CEO Derby Brackett, a leader whose dedication to the mission has helped strengthen and shape the VBSPCA over the past eight years.
A Passion That Came Full Circle
Derby has always loved animals. As a child, she wanted to be a veterinarian and later earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology. Although her career led her into leadership roles in different fields, she built her work on entrepreneurial drive and a commitment to serving others.
After moving from Richmond to Virginia Beach, Derby joined the VBSPCA Board of Directors. This experience eventually led her to become CEO.
“It has been the perfect summation of my leadership focus,” she shares. “To work in a field where mission guides your actions and drives your business forward for the betterment of our community.”
Leadership Through Defining Moments
During her time as CEO, Derby led the organization through some of its most important moments.
The VBSPCA remained fully operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. A major veterinary clinic renovation was completed while the clinic continued to serve the public. And during her temporary absence following a serious automobile accident in 2021, the culture of empowerment she had cultivated ensured the organization never missed a beat.
“The simpler moments are the most meaningful,” Derby reflects. “The adoptions, the successful surgeries, the ability to help an animal and owner in need. But the true magic is in the people who do the work.”
Her leadership focused on building a team that can adapt, serve, and lead with compassion, always putting animals and families at the center of every decision.
A Shared Purpose
When asked what has kept her committed over the years, Derby says it’s the people.
“Staff, volunteers, donors, adopters, partners—they all walk through our doors with a shared vision. It is a far greater purpose to serve.”
In her words, receiving the Lifesaver Award is truly humbling.
“There have been such great recipients before me. I am honored that my dedication and leadership are recognized this way.”
As she prepares to retire later this year, Derby leaves behind an organization strengthened by her steady leadership and unwavering commitment to mission. The opportunity to serve as a “lifesaver,” she says, has been a privilege.