The Good Sam Club rings in Dogs for the Deaf’s 35th anniversary
Betty White made an appearance at the celebration, pictured with Robin Dickson, Dogs for the Deaf president and CEO.
Thirty-three years ago, the Good Sam Club lent its support to a two-year-old nonprofit known as Dogs for the Deaf. The fledgling organization was on a mission to rescue homeless dogs from animal shelters and train them to assist people in need, and dog-loving Good Sam members were gung-ho to help. Today, Dogs for the Deaf is recognized as North America’s oldest and largest Hearing Dog institution, providing dogs free of charge to people with a variety of challenges, from hearing loss to autism. Over the years the club and its nearly 1,500 local Chapters have played a big part in the success of Dogs for the Deaf, now celebrating its 35th year.
Sam’s Radio Hams Chapter was all smiles at Dog for the Deaf’s 35th anniversary party in Los Angeles.
To mark the milestone, Dogs for the Deaf staged a star-studded anniversary party in Los Angeles, and Sam’s Radio Hams Chapter was on hand to help. Actress and animal rights advocate Betty White hosted the August gala along with Dogs for the Deaf president and CEO Robin Dickson. Chapter members greeted red-carpet guests, provided media badges and assisted press photographers, as well as loading and unloading supplies. They’re pictured at the event with Danielle Rose, a deaf North Carolina doctor who works with autistic children with assistance from her Dogs for the Deaf–trained canine, Ginger.
Last year, Sam’s Radio Hams and other Good Sam Club Chapters and state organizations across the continent raised $103,266 for Dogs for the Deaf and are well on the way to matching that in 2012. On top of that, Good Sam members attending this year’s Louisville and Phoenix Good Sam Rallies opened their hearts and wallets to give $10,412 to the organization, and that’s in addition to the $45,000 donated by the Good Sam Club itself in 2012.To learn more about the good works of Dogs for the Deaf and Good Sam Chapters, go to dogsforthedeaf.org.
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