Vermont Student Donates Talent Present Winnings to Local Animal Shelter

BRATTLEBORO, VT – A Springfield, Vermont, student has demonstrated remarkable generosity by donating her $1,000 prize money from a recent talent show to the Springfield Humane Society. Quinn Carafiello, a student in Springfield, has been a long-time supporter of the animal shelter, often prioritizing gifts for the animals over personal presents for her birthdays.

A Passion for Animals

Marissa Bentley, Executive Director of the Springfield Humane Society, highlighted Quinn’s consistent kindness. “Quinn’s actually been coming for years to hang out with the animals and has, for her birthday, occasionally gotten presents for them instead of herself,” Bentley said.

Windham County’s Got Talent Victory

Quinn recently won first prize at Windham County’s Got Talent with a singing performance. Upon winning, she immediately decided to donate the prize money to the shelter. “This year I was like, I’m going to donate if I win. And then I did win!” Quinn explained.

Donation to Benefit Shelter Animals

Quinn used the $1,000 prize to purchase several hundred dollars’ worth of toys, treats, and cleaning supplies for the Springfield shelter. Bentley emphasized the importance of such donations for the non-profit organization. “We rely solely on kind people to donate to the animals, either monetarily or in item fashion. So, it’s extremely important,” she stated.

A Desire to Help

Quinn’s motivation stemmed from a desire to improve the lives of animals in need. “Everybody needs something and I thought they needed it more than me,” she said. She hopes her donation will bring joy and comfort to the animals. “I just think that sometimes dogs can have hard lives and sometimes they just need things to help them pick them back up,” Quinn added.

Windham County’s Got Talent

The 7th annual Windham County’s Got Talent, hosted by the Brattleboro Reformer, featured thirteen different acts competing for the top prize on February 19, 2026. Photos from the event are available online. Quinn Carafiello closed the event with an a cappella rendition of “Rise Up” by Andre Day, securing her win. More details on Quinn’s performance can be found here.