Class of 2026 president Sabrina Wu has found a creative way to combine her love for art and animals, transforming her passion into a mission that makes both a difference and an impact. Her organization, Pawtraits for a Purpose, connects student artists with local shelters to help pets find forever homes.
“I’ve always really loved animals and wanted to do something to help them get adopted faster,” Wu said. “So I decided to use something I enjoy and can do, art.”
Wu’s idea for Pawtraits for a Purpose began when she noticed how older and less popular animal breeds weren’t adopted as often. For example, pit bulls, or pets with disabilities, often waited much longer for foster parents.
“The less popular animals were the ones that would usually be long stays, so I started focusing on drawing portraits of them to help them stand out,” Wu said.
Spending countless hours drawing animals she found on shelter websites, Wu added her own artistic touch to each portrait, bringing out the animals’ personalities using unique backgrounds and designs.
Gradually, Wu’s solo passion project grew into a community-driven movement. With her will for its growth and desire for others to join in, she later expanded Pawtraits for a Purpose to social media, inviting people of all kinds to experience and participate.
Each month, Wu sends out a detailed spreadsheet listing animals that need portraits. Volunteers sign up, turn in their finished pieces, and eventually get featured on the club’s Instagram page. The credit goes out to each artist, whose artwork is shared not only by the shelters but the community.
“I don’t limit who can join,” Wu said. “No matter how good you are at drawing, I want people to enjoy art while giving back to the community.”
The response was immediate. Students and artists began contributing their own portraits of the animals that were up for adoption. Each drawing was filled with thoughtful care, becoming a bridge between fostering and help.
Now, Pawtraits for Purpose has officially partnered with the Inland Valley Humane Society in Pomona and Priceless Pets in Chino Hills, allowing the organization to greatly expand its reach. The volunteers created hand-drawn portraits that are displayed next to the animal adoption signs in hopes of catching the attention of potential owners.
Pawtraits for a Purpose has shown the potential of aligning creativity and compassion for the benefit of others. Wu commits to further expanding her new organization to make sure no animal goes unseen.