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Ron Greenbaum presenting CCI’s Megan Koester with
check for
a donation from The Basement Doctor.
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Another organization dear to our hearts, Canine Companions for Independence is a foundation that provides people with disabilities with highly
trained service dogs to assist them in every day tasks. These service dogs can act
as the ears, hands, legs, and emotional support of their owners leading to
increased confidence and independence. Every
dog must master 40 commands before graduating from their training and being
assigned to a client.
According to Joe
Parrish, president of CCI’s North Central Regional board, the North Central
Region provides trained dogs for people in 14 states.
After attending a summer service dog graduation, Ron was
inspired to provide a donation to support their new location’s board room. The center,
now located in Delaware, is preparing for their upcoming move to New Albany on
16 acres near New Albany-Condit Road. The timeline for the build will depend on
a capital fundraising campaign.
According to the North Central Region executive director,
Megan Koester, the new facility will have a kennel indoor for dogs in training
as well as an administrative building along with a training center including a
dormitory for clients in training for their dogs. She stated that the company
offers clients the dogs at no charge using donations. The dormitories at the
facility would save veterans, adults, and children from paying for hotels and
meals during their two-week training period.
“That’s the big bonus of having
the dorms”, Koester added.
She has stated that there is no set timeline for the
construction of the new facility since it will be determined by the completion
of the capital fundraising campaign.
