Personal appeal on behalf of Service Dogs of Virginia

[Heather Higgins]

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, friends! 

It's the time of year when we tend to think back on all that we are grateful for and think ahead to how we'll live more fully in the new year. It's also the last few days for making 2013 tax-deductible donations. :)

In the spirit of the season and especially this year, I'm writing to ask that you share some of your good fortune and aspirations for better days ahead by lending your vital support to Service Dogs of Virginia.

For our clients, life has changed in an instant and they've found themselves or their child struggling to manage every day activities. The highly trained service dogs we place with our clients make a profound impact on their independence, their well-being, and their aspirations for a life not limited by disease or injury.

At a total cost of $40,000 to raise and train each service dog and no government funding, we look to the community for sponsorship, recurring donations, legacy gifts, and foundation grants. With your financial support of our mission, we are able to continue improving the lives of Virginians affected by physical disabilities or injuries, Type 1 Diabetes, or childhood Autism.

I want to share with you heart-warming videos from two of our 2013 graduating teams. The videos were prepared for our December graduation celebration which was then unfortunately snowed out. they'll give you a sense of how meaningful your support will be to those in need.

Autism Services VIDEO: Cortney Heykoop, mother of Lily 

Physical Assistance Services VIDEO: Bruce Dellinger

Please consider making a recurring monthly donation which will help provide reliable cash flow to the organization.  You can do this by selecting "Repeat payment? Month."

In addition, our Sponsor A Service Dog program is a great way for you to share your support and connect with the dog's progress through their training program. The sponsorship packages make meaningful gifts and the paw paintings are striking conversation starters. My nieces and nephews are super excited each year about "their" service dog and look forward to the training updates. 

Thank you for your considering my appeal. As a former puppy raiser, a long-time volunteer, and an officer on the Board of Directors, I care deeply about sustainably growing Service Dogs of Virginia's reach so we can change the lives of more Virginians for the better.

Your generous support within your means will help us do just that and is greatly appreciated. Thank you, thank you!

Cheers,

Heather

Heather Higgins

Secretary, Board of Directors

Service Dogs of Virginia

mobile: 434.760.3330