Canine Companions for Independence
LOCATION: Fleishman-Hillard, 220 East 42nd Street, (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), 11th floor, main conference room (Breakfast served @ 8:00 a.m.)
Generously hosted by Claire Behar, Senior Partner and Director, New Business Development, Fleishman-Hillard New York
Please RSVP: Attendance is limited to 115 people on a "first confirmed" basis. In the event that your plans change, we'd be most appreciative of the courtesy of a cancellation.
Imagine not being able to do the little things taken for granted everyday: picking up a set of keys or a pen, turning on a light switch, opening a door, pulling down a window shade, carrying a bag of groceries. Imagine what it would be like to not be able to do those things without constant help from family, friends and paid caregivers. Now imagine overcoming these physical barriers and gaining independence with a very special four-legged Canine Companion!
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) does just that; providing highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities other than blindness. Established in 1975, CCI is a national nonprofit organization that has grown to be the largest and most successful of its kind and is the first to receive full accreditation by Assistance Dogs International.
CCI places four types of assistance dogs: Service Dogs for adults with physical disabilities; Skilled Companions for children and adults with emotional, developmental or physical disabilities who need the help of a care partner to work with and care for their a dog; Hearing Dogs for individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired and Facility Dogs for health care professionals to help promote healing and facilitate therapy for patients and residents in their care.
From Puppy to Service Dog
CCIís specially trained Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and Labrador/golden mixes come from its own breeding program in Santa Rosa, CA. At eight weeks of age, these special dogs are placed in volunteer puppy raiser homes for approximately one year to be socialized and receive basic obedience training. From there, the dogs return to one of CCIís five regional centers (California (2), New York, Florida and Ohio) to begin a six to nine month advanced training program where they learn to respond to more than 50 commands, including retrieving items, pulling wheelchairs, turning light switches on and off, performing transactions and opening and closing doors.
After completing advanced training, the dogs are then prepared for two weeks of intensive Team Training with their human partner, where students learn to work with their future Canine Companions. Students also learn techniques to later expand the range of commands to meet their specific needs. CCI students may be living with disabilities ranging from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury to those with hearing loss and developmental delay.
Team Training culminates in an emotional and inspirational graduation ceremony, signaling the beginning of a new phase of life rich with promise for the new graduate team. For some graduates, it means returning to work, reducing medication or their dependency on healthcare attendants. Canine Companions empower graduates to overcome physical, psychological and social barriers, enabling them to lead more independent and satisfying lives.
How we do it
Breeding, raising, training, and placing a single Canine Companion costs more than $30,000. However, CCI does not charge for assistance dogs or a lifetime of vital ongoing training; instead it depends on private funding through donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and community organizations. CCI does not receive any government monies and is proud that 82 cents of every dollar raised is spent directly on program services to provide its remarkable retrievers to individuals with disabilities.
CCI will demonstrate for you exactly what it is (including a graduate and, yes, a DOG), as well as explaining what impact it can have on your products and clients.
PRESENTERS:
Ron Knell: Ron is the Executive Director for the Northeast Region of CCI, located on Long Island. The Northeast region includes 13 states and the District of Columbia. Prior to CCI, Ron served as a trial attorney for 17 years as well as a consultant for both political and non-profit campaigns. He has also held the position of Campaign Director for several non-profits. Ron is currently overseeing a $10 million capital campaign for the Northeast Region of CCI. The updated facility, located in Medford, NY, will allow the region to train and place more dogs. It is slated to open in the summer of 2007.
Patricia Callahan: Pat comes to CCI from the American Cancer Society where she served as Director of Distinguished Giving. Her responsibilities included managing the distinguished gifts program ($100,000+) for all of Southern California. Pat was previously the Director of Major and Planned Gifts for the Western and Pacific Northwest Regions of the American Diabetes Association. Her other development credentials include Assistant Vice President, Development and Marketing, California State University Dominguez Hills; Executive Director, Orange County Together; Orange County United Way; and Director of Development, Corporate Affairs, University of California, Irvine.
Anne Roberts: Anne is a volunteer who has given countless hours of her time in spreading the word about CCI to the public. Her background is quite varied, having had a successful career in NYC as a commercial actress and Cabaret singer for many years. Anne currently resides in Vail, Colorado, yet still remains a loyal member of the Board of Directors for the Northeast Region of CCI and is also a member of the National Board out of Santa Rosa, California. Anne can be credited for bringing CCI to the Luxury Council, through a good friend of the Council and the New York advertising community, Bob Solon.