Carolina Canines Kicks Off 100 Days Fundraising Campaign

Carolina Canines for Service, Inc. launched the Power of 10 fundraising campaign on Monday, August 3. The goal of the 100-day initiative is to raise $60,000 – the cost to complete advanced training and place three service dogs.

The Power of 10 fundraising concept starts with 10 supporters donating 10 dollars each to Carolina Canines. They, in turn, ask ten of their friends to do the same, who in turn ask ten more friends ……… creating a powerful wave of support and fundraising dollars.

A kick-off for the campaign was held at Carolina Canines for volunteers, friends and supporters on Saturday, August 1. People gathered to enjoy complimentary hotdogs and drinks provided by the Board of Directors. Along with the Board Members, staff, clients and volunteers were on hand to get the wave of going. “This is an easy opportunity for our communities to help support the programs and services offered by Carolina Canines”, states Paula Zabkar, Board Secretary. “Power of 10 is easy, you donate $10 and ask 10 friends to do the same, and they ask 10 friends creating that powerful wave of support. You can do this in person or send an email. But, everyone already knows 10 friends they can ask. Include a personal story of your own about how your life has been touched by Carolina Canines or how you have touched others. By asking just 10 friends and those friends asking 10 friends anyone can easily raise $1,000 and reach our goal of $60,000.”

Did you know…..…

• 34 service dogs placed, valued at $1,292,000, but hundreds have been in training to achieve this



• 76% of placements are in North Carolina



• Service dogs are valued close to $40,000 each, know over 70 tasks and are provided at no cost to the person receiving the dog



• Carolina Canines for Veterans was started in January 2008 at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Brig and already five Wounded Warriors have received their service dogs



• Carolina Canines for Therapy has registered over 200 teams with over 90 active teams



• Paws for Reading helps children improve their reading skills in a fun, non-judgmental way by reading to the dogs



• We are over 200 Volunteers strong and our volunteers have donated 119,811 or an average of 2500 hours each month

Carolina Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. For more information, call (866) 910-3647 or visit www.carolinacanines.org.

Paws for Reading

Paws for Reading

The mission of the Paws for Reading is to improve the literacy skills of children through the use of registered Carolina Canines for Therapy teams as literacy mentors.

Paws for Reading demonstrates that registered handlers and their therapy dogs are instrumental in improving the literacy skills of children in an effective, unique and, most importantly, fun manner. The objective of Paws for Reading! is to have children in second through fifth grade read to the therapy animals on a weekly basis during the school year.

Since initiating Paws for Reading in September 2002, Carolina Canines for Service has provided this valuable literacy tool to over 370 children in the schools and over 500 children in the library program or community activities. The program has included emerging readers in kindergarten to middle school students, although originally designed for second through fifth grade. We have teams located at the Wilmington Northeast Library, the community Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington, as well as select local elementary schools during the school year.
Results from Paws for Reading demonstrate that 83% of the children participating have improved their reading skills.

“I like to read sometimes, but it is very hard for me. I LOVE reading to the dogs and giving them treats. The ladies are very nice and help me with the hard words. Coming makes me like reading more and I get excited to come to read.” -Gabe

Gabe also told his mom one day when he was not feeling well that “he had to be at school today because it was a Paws for Reading day and that he was the best reader they had and did not want to let them down.”

Paws for Reading is an affiliate program of the Intermountain Therapy Animal Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D. ®) program.

Are you interested in becoming a Paws for Reading team? Contact Carolina Canines for Service at 910-362-8181 or visit http://www.carolinacanines.org/ to find out how to become a therapy team in Wilmington, NC. Contact Teamworks Dog Training at 919-855-0422 or visit http://www.dogtrainingraleighnc.net/ for information in the Raleigh, NC area.