Holiday Season Kick Off
To kick off the holiday season, Nick & Johnnie’s hosted the Ugly Holiday Sweater Party to benefit Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. The first of its kind event for the organization was co-chaired by Maureen & Greg Newman, and Leah Miles & Brendan Prokop. Attendees were invited to don their ugliest, tackiest or wackiest sweaters for a chance to win prizes. Local business owners Will Corrente, Dr. Laura Grigsby, Bob Katz and Nick Coniglio were celebrity judges for the costume contest. Guests were treated to dinner by the “bite”, a photo booth, a DJ, a Chinese auction featuring extravagant, themed baskets and a fantastic door prize. The true highlight of the evening was meeting two young dogs who will be placed with clients as assistance dogs upon completion of their training, and two Genesis clients who demonstrated how valuable their assistance dog has become in their daily lives.
Said Jeffrey Eagle, President of Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc., “Events like this are an integral part of our fundraising efforts for the organization. Money raised from supporters and events goes directly to obtaining, raising, training and placing an assistance dog with a client with a disability, at no cost to the client. That’s just one of the many reasons Genesis is different from other service dog organizations.”
Maureen Newman, one of the co-chairs shared the main reason she and her husband support Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. “We are impressed with all that Genesis Assistance Dogs has accomplished so quickly. Providing a service dog at no cost to a disabled person is a wonderful gift that changes a life forever.” She continued, “Increasing awareness about Genesis and their mission is so important to the future placement of service dogs. Our goal with tonight’s event is to not only raise funds, but to find future puppy raisers, event hosts or sponsors, volunteers, and forever friends.”
Said Leah Miles, “Brendan and I appreciate that Genesis is a small, grass-roots organization with no paid staff – meaning 100% of the proceeds raised from events like this support the mission. We have seen firsthand how assistance dogs make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. In co-chairing this event, Brendan and I feel we are ‘giving back’ to others who are dealing with the day-to-day challenges of life with a disability.”
Founded in 2012, the mission of Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. is to provide ability and independence to transform the lives of people with disabilities, through the training and placement of highly skilled assistance dogs for children and adults. The Genesis client base includes individuals with disabilities such as balance problems, brain injuries, neurological disorders, and those individuals utilizing wheelchairs due to physical disabilities.
