Portland, ME (May 12, 2010) – The Planet Dog Foundation (PDF) is thrilled to announce the recipients of their Spring Grant Cycle. $25,000 in grants has been awarded to canine service organizations across the country including Paws and Think, Inc., a non-profit based in Indianapolis.
The Planet Dog Foundation is the corporate philanthropic arm of Planet Dog, the globally recognized designer and developer of innovative, high-quality and award-winning dog products that enhance the lifestyle people share with their canine companions. Planet Dog is proud to donate 2% of all purchases of Planet Dog products to PDF.
PDF provides cash grants to programs throughout the country that train, place and support dogs helping people in need. Since 2006, PDF has contributed more than a half a million dollars in cash and in-kind product donations to exemplary canine service programs.
"There is a great need for funding to support service dogs and the amazing ways they are helping children and adults across the country," says Kristen Smith, the Executive Director of the Planet Dog Foundation. "We received high caliber proposals from 85 organizations and although we cannot fund all of them, we are proud to be able to donate $25,000 in support of five exceptional programs," adds Smith.
Paws and Think, Inc. (www.pawsandthink.org) serves at-risk youth, at-risk canines and children and adults with disabilities and special needs in central Indiana. This all-volunteer, community-based organization works in partnership with schools, detention centers, youth agencies, humane societies, shelters and others to pair the youth with stray, surrendered or neglected dogs to train them to become service dogs for people living with a disability or as pets, thereby avoiding euthanasia.
"We are proud that our efforts have been recognized by the Planet Dog Foundation," says Thomas Heath, Director of Program and Organizational Development for Paws and Think, Inc. "Their $4,000 grant will fund our At-Risk Youth-Canine Program," adds Heath.
In addition to awarding grants, PDF also extends its support to non-profit organizations nationwide through product donations. "Unfortunately, we cannot meet the financial needs of every grant applicant so we are thankful to be able to support them in other ways," adds Smith.
The other recipients of the PDF Spring grants are: Texas Hearing and Service Dogs of Austin; Therapy Dogs Inc of Cheyenne, WY; HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Reponse of Alpharetta and Thirteen/WNET TV New York.To learn more, visit www.planetdogfoundation.org.
