WPCNR STARS AND STRIPES. From Pia Haas, Westchester Broadway Theatre. January 16, 2008: On Friday January 11, 2008, Westchester Broadway Theatre donated $10,000. to the program "Canines for Combat Veterans", which was initiated by NEADS, a service dog training organization located in West Boylston, Mass. This program provides service dogs for wounded veterans. Most of those veterans are victims of the current conflict in Iraq/Afghanistan. The majority of these wounded vets have suffered amputation, spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI) and need assistance. Their service dog can retrieve items, open doors, turn lights on and off, provide balance while the vet is walking and assist the veteran going up and down stairs or getting up from a chair.
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Veteran Chris Strickland and his dog Ruthie with Frank Morganthaler of VFW Post 2285, Shiela O'Brien (NEADS Executive Director) and Westchester Broadway Theatre Owners, Bill Stutler and Bob Funking. Photo, Courtesy, WBT by Pia Haas.
It takes about 18 months to fully train these service dogs, at a cost of $10,000 per dog. This program does not receive any Federal, State or VA financial assistance and must seek donations to finance the effort.
Veteran Chris Strickland, Ruthie, with Bob Funking (WBT Owner), Sheila O'Brien of NEADS, Second Row: County Legislator Vito Pinto, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano; NY State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson; Frank Morganthaler, Bill Stutler ( WBT Owner) and Bob Foster, VFW. Photos, Courtesy WBT's Pia Haas
The Eastchester American Legion Post 979 and VFW Post 2285 were the first contributions to the Canines for Combat Veterans Fund in Westchester. Frank Morganthaler and Bob Foster, each a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War Posts have valiantly led the fundraising effort to pair wounded combat veterans with trained service dogs. Westchester Broadway Theatre, with the help of our generous patrons, is proud to join the effort by sponsoring a dog for a deserving veteran! Contact NEADS at 978-422-9064. or sobrien@neads.org. The website: www.neads.org
