Roxy Therapy Dogs Receives $4,000 Grant From Bucks County Foundation
DOYLESTOWN, PA: Roxy Therapy Dogs received a $4,000 grant from the Bucks County Foundation (BCF). This is the second year the non-profit organization has been awarded the grant. The grant will help Roxy Therapy Dogs support its programs including Elementary School Reading Inspiration, Student Specialized Support and Secondary School Stress Relief within the Central Bucks School District, as well as Courthouse Companionship and Pediatric Comfort programs which benefit children across Bucks County.
“The Foundation has several funds that tend to prefer animal-involved causes, so we are always happy to learn of groups that can really make a difference with a small grant. Our Board particularly was impressed with Roxy Therapy Dogs because of how many people the organization reaches, how much good is done for the children, and that it’s driven by volunteers. The dedicated team members, and of course, the delightful therapy dogs, completely won the hearts of our board members,” said Foundation Executive Director Linda Goodwin.
Certified Roxy Therapy Dog teams visit over 3,200 children each week in the school programs alone. Approximately 30% of the classrooms Roxy teams now visit in the Central Bucks School District are specialized classes including children with multiple disabilities, Autism, and with special needs including learning support, life skills, and emotional support.
Under the direction of its volunteer president, Sharon Fleck, Roxy Therapy Dogs has advanced its mission by creating a better understanding of the connection between people and dogs, cultivating successful programs that benefit everyone involved, and building strong relationships with community leaders, organizations and partners.
“For two years now, Roxy has been excited to meet with several members of the BCF board and build a great relationship. With support from our community and BCF, Roxy continues to flourish and grow since it began 14 years ago. We are extremely lucky to have such generous support from BCF and are very thankful for their help in supporting the children in our community through Roxy Therapy Dogs,” said Patricia Morrison, Roxy Director of Community Engagement.
About Bucks County Foundation
The Bucks County Foundation is a charitable trust created to serve Bucks County and its residents. The Foundation helps individuals who love this community and want to support it in perpetuity-by establishing a named fund, leaving a bequest in a will, or supporting an agency endowment. Working with the Foundation, donors can arrange ongoing financial support for their favorite organizations or for a general field of interest. Or they can specify that their gifts should be used to meet the County’s greatest needs. Since its founding in 1979, the Foundation has provided over $3 Million in scholarships for Bucks County students to attend college. It has given grants to help needy families and homeless animals, support the arts, education, museums, the environment and the Bucks County Free Library, among many others. For more information, visit www.buckscountyfoundation.org
About Roxy Therapy Dogs
Roxy Therapy Dogs provides a dependable support system for thousands of children in Bucks County, Pennsylvania by promoting literacy in schools, soothing fears in the courthouse, comforting pediatric patients, medically fragile children, cognitively and physically challenged children, and teens struggling with anxiety, stress and grief. Roxy’s unique therapeutic services are provided entirely by volunteer certified pet therapy teams absolutely free of charge to all the children and families in our community. For more information, visit www.roxytherapydogs.org
Media Contact: Jennifer Ashenfelter, 215-896-2389 or jennifer@roxytherapydogs.org
Photo: From left – Patricia Morrison (Roxy Therapy Dogs Director of Community Engagement), Deanna Blanchard, MD (Bucks County Foundation Board Member), Sharon Fleck (Roxy Therapy Dogs President) & Juma (Roxy therapy dog)
