National Volunteer Week

Hello to all of our wonderful volunteers,

Established in 1974 by former President, Richard Nixon, National Volunteer Week, is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their community. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, in unison, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action, encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change—discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation. National Volunteer Week is not only our moment in time to celebrate our volunteers, but to enable a nation to share ideas, practices, and stories, wherever they happen, and shaping a movement to re-imagine the notion of citizenship for the 21st century.

We want to take a week and acknowledge some of our amazing volunteers, without whom we would not be able to do what we do! Thank you to everyone and we hope you continue to help us help others!

Foster Puppy Parent: Stacey Sears is a new but dedicated foster puppy parent. She is the newest foster mommy to Luke, a 7 month old labradoodle. She has shown her passion through her weekly commitment to Monday night classes as well as being the 2nd highest individual fundraiser for the 3rd Annual Walk For Those Who Can’t. Thanks for all you do Stacey!

Carolina Canines for Therapy Team: Dave Thomas recently celebrated his 5th Anniversary as a Carolina Canines for Therapy team at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He and Sam enjoy their weekly trips to visit the residents and continues to show his enthusiasm for the Carolina Canines mission! Keep up the great work Dave and Sam!

General Volunteer: Stuart Callari is a recent graduate of the Carolina Canines for Therapy team, but what stands out is her constant willingness to come in a lend a hand in at the office! Stuart always brings a smile to the staff’s face when she comes in to help out whether its framing pictures or mailings. Stuart comes from Southport and keeps the staff in stitches as she plugs along at her tasks. Thanks Stuart!

30th Annual Coastal Living Show

Join the Wilmington Woman's Club for the 30th Annual Coastal Living Show this weekend, April 18 - 19, 2009 at the Schwartz Center.

The Coastal Living Show is produced by the Wilmington Woman's Club as its only fundraiser. It is an opportunity for businesses to showcase to the public a variety of gifts, products, and ideas for the home, garden, office, and seaside living. All proceeds from this fundraiser are distributed to non-profit agencies and college scholarships and this wonderful groups of hard working women support Carolina canines for Service.

Look for us in the lobby area and meet some of our newest Carolina Canines for Therapy teams that are starting to visit in our communtiy. We'll be there both Saturday and Sunday; Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. See you there!

Top Ten Reasons the 2009 Walk for Those Who Can’t was a Success!

10. The weather was beautiful. Finally a year that the temperatures were above 40 degrees, the breeze was mild and the rain held off until just after the walk was over.

9. The John Nesbitt Loop at Wrightsville Beach is a great place to take your best 4-legged friend for a Walk on a nice morning.

8. There were plenty of great people to meet and dogs to see and pet.

7. Fifty-five (55) fundraising pages were created on firstgiving.com by our supporters.

6. The volunteers that staffed the Carolina Canines booth including a Kathleen and David Goins from Greensboro area who donated the fantastic Sam and Macy’s Cookie Crack dog treats.

5. The volunteers that helped put this together from hospitality, the water stations, registration, logistics, each person played a key part in making the event a success.

4. The top fundraising individual, Nina Newell and Jaxson who raised $1,275 and runner up Stacy Sears and Service Dog in Training Luke raising $535.

3. The top fundraising team, Association of Nursing Students that raised $1,285 and the runner up team, Harrells Christian Academy Key Club raising $800.

2. Our sponsors who without their support the event would not be possible. Talk Inc., Merrill Lynch- William Truscott, Atlantic Orthopedic, Papa Johns, WECT, Sunrise Broadcasting, Surf 98.3, Jammin 99.9, DogLiving, Encore, Daid Hill & Associates, NRL Builders, INc., Health Source of Wilmington, Bootleg Magazine, Dock Street Printing, and Backyard Paradise.

1. Our supporters, that means you, teams and individuals are the best! Raising a net of just over $18,700, the people from our community and further came out to help us to help others.

We cannot continue the work we do without your financial help. As stuarts of your donations, 95 cents of every dollar works to help someone in need! Thank you for your commitment to serving our community.

Thank you for a Great Event!

Thank you to our event sponsors, donors, in-kind donors, volunteers, teams and individual walkers for a great 3rd annual Walk for Those Who Can't. Over 360 walkers and 250 dogs came out for a beautiful day that started cloudy, but ended as a sunny morning. Dogs of all sizes from a Yorkshire Terrier to Great Danes walked the John Nesbitt Loop at Wrigtsville Beach, North Carolina in support of the programs of Carolina Canines for Service. Master of Cermony, Jon Evans of WECT provided highlights of Carolina Canines and inspired the teams and walkers in their quest to finish the walk.

The Top Fundraising Team was the Association of Nursing Students with Team Captain Kacie Nifong raising $1,285.

Runner-up Fundraising Team was Harrells Academy Key Club raising just over $800.

The Top Individual Fundraiser for the second year in a row was Nina Newell and Jaxson raising $1,275. Nina topped her fundraising events of last year by nearly $400 and she and her finance, Greg, have registered Carolina Canines as their charity of choice for donations for their upcoming wedding in September 2009.

The Runner-up Individual Fundraiser was Stacey Sears and her service dog in training Luke. Stacey raised $535 to support the programs of Carolina Canines.

Photographs from the event will be available on the Walk website soon.

To learn more about Carolina Canines, our programs and how you can help visit http://www.carolinacanines.org/.

Rain, Rain, Go Away.....

We want a great Walk Day!

Remember the U.S Postal motto, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” In reality that was not the official motto, but an inscription found on the General Post Office in New York City at 8th Avenue and 33rd Street.

But what does that have to do with the 3rd Annual Walk for Those Who Can’t? The Walk is rain or shine this Saturday, March 28th at Wrightsville Beach Loop and, while warm temperatures are in the forecast, there is also a chance of rain.

Are you registered? Join the 270+ people and 175+ dogs that are already registered. It’s easy. Visit www.walkforthosewhocant.org and click on the Firstgiving page. You can join a team or registered as an individual. Follow the instructions on the screen to register. If you really get stuck, call us at 910-362-8194 and someone here will help. Online registration closes at Noon on Friday.

Registration begins at 9 am on Saturday, March 28th at the Wrightsville Beach Loop.