​​The back story of how Essex Givens Fund got its name…

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In 1995 a frugal graduate school student was attending University of California Davis and needed a place to live. That student...Scott Essex of Lake County, California. Like many, Scott didn’t need much while attending school, just a place to sleep and do his studies. He found himself a room rental in Davis California. Living just next door was an elderly lady named Ann Givens. The two made fast friends.  Not long after signing the lease, Scott found himself doing odd jobs for Anne in trade for a good home cooked meal! The two developed a love for a favorite radio program called the “Prairie Home Companion” which they would listen to over supper, a glass of wine, and her infamous home baked pie. Though years apart in age, their souls were that of an oldie. 

 

Ann, retired at this time, devoted much of her attention to developing a breeding program of Burmese feline, raising a fair number of litters. She was as close to a grandma figure as Scott had ever experienced and because of that, the two were very close. Scott graduated with the class of 2000 from UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, where Anne appropriately hosted his graduation party. Anne thoroughly enjoyed watching as Scott went from Mr. Scott Essex to Doctor Scott Essex. An accomplishment she was proud to have helped him achieve. 

 

Naturally, Dr. Essex moved from UC Davis to embark on his new life as a large animal veterinarian and sadly Ann passed away November 2016 at 95 years young.

 

In 2020 Dr. Essex returned to Siskiyou County and re-opened his ambulatory large animal practice. In doing so, the summer fires posed many difficulties in the way of animal treatment and he was urged to start a non-profit to better suit the needs of the animals he served. In doing so, the non-profit was undoubtedly named after Ann Givens hence THE ESSEX GIVENS FUND. If only Ann could see him now...the heart of Scott healing with that of DVM behind his name combined with people “GIVING” because of her last name. We can’t help but think, it would make her rose colored cheeks a new shade of pink.

 

- Posted in loving memory of ANN GIVENS -

August 2025

 

~ SANDY  & ​​​​ JULIE  ~

Both of these lovely ladies were taken from earth too soon. Their love of animals was a huge part of who they were.  We wanted to honor them here on this site and they are also memorialized as part of the artwork on the Essex Veterinary Surgery Van.  Many dollars of memorialization have come in to the ESSEX GIVENS FUND in honor of these precious souls.  Sandy is also responsible for the initial donation of the autoclave in order to start the spay and neuter portion of the Essex Givens Fund.

They are missed, but live on in the memories of those who loved them.

We are grateful for their lives here on earth and for the good that they continue to do.

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