SUMMER 2017
THE GOLDEN NEWS
Hand
ANIMAL ASSISTED
Paw THERAPY
The official newsletter for Birmingham’s nonprofit organization improving lives through Animal-Assisted Therapy
UAB Faculty and Staff Help Expand Animal-Assisted Education Services Hand in Paw is honored and grateful to be the recipient of the third annual UAB Benevolent Fund Community Impact Grant. The winner of this $50,000 grant was chosen by UAB employees who cast their votes after watching video presentations. The funding will enable Hand in Paw to build the capacity to expand its Petscription for the Classroom program to serve six new schools this 20172018 school year. Therapy teams will give special education teachers, therapists, and counselors powerful tools with which to improve focus, cognition, social skills, language and speech, motor skills, and behavior. Therapy teams can positively influence the atmosphere and culture of and have even shown to be motivators in reducing truancy.
finals,” said Lisa Higginbotham, Benevolent Fund manager. “It’s my belief our employees voted to award the Community Impact Grant to Hand in Paw in order to share with local schools what we have seen to be so effective at UAB.”
Hand in Paw will hold an Animal-Assisted Education seminar this July at the UAB School of Health Professions to demonstrate effective methods of incorporating the program into schools. It is Hand in Paw’s goal to serve an “UAB employees have witnessed the additional 300 children this school benefits of Hand in Paw, whether it’s year via this expansion. a therapy team visiting a patient or stress-relief breaks for students during THANK YOU, UAB!
HIP HAPPENINGS
Please join us this summer for the following fundraisers. We are so thankful for the support of these generous local companies. • 07/05- Sky’s the Limit at Sky Castle • 07/31- Paws on the Patio hosted by Tito’s Vodka at OvenBird • 08/31- Paws on the Patio at FOODBAR • 09/10- Dog Wash at The Whole Dog Market in Homewood • 09/28- Art Show at 4 Seasons Gallery