2019 SUMMER NEWSLETTER
GOLDEN COMFORT HAS 4 LEGS, A WET NOSE,
and a golden scarf.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Your Impact is GOLDEN Studies show that the meaning of yellow is warmth, cheerfulness, increased mental activity, and increased muscle energy. Yellow helps activate the memory, encourage communication, enhance vision, build confidence, and stimulate the nervous system. The Beth Franklin Building represents the generosity of our community and the hard work and generous hearts of our volunteers and donors. It is alive with people and pets every day of the week. The gardens were lovingly planted by Libby Rich and she attends to them weekly. Staff and HIP Volunteer Evaluators are training new Therapy Teams. We have regular Open House opportunities for more volunteers to come in and learn about Hand in Paw. The Board of Directors can now meet in a beautiful conference room. A special needs class from Pizitz Middle School visited us in February, donors and volunteers drop in regularly – the place is full of joy. A few blocks from here, at Children’s of Alabama, there is a fragile and sick child. His parents are hovering nearby – in constant attendance and prayer. The strange faces of hospital staff, technicians and busy adults come and go. Complicated tubes and wires are in the room and the incessant beeping of monitors, strange smells fill the empty spaces. There is a knock on the door. A Therapy Team, wearing yellow, walks in and carefully follows pre-set protocol to bring comfort. The welltrained team is unaffected by the sounds, smells and heaviness in the room. A tail wags and a therapy handler says Hello. The child, for the first time that day, smiles and reaches to pet the dog and the parents are distracted from the harsh reality that they are living with. The light changes to a soft yellow and faces The Beth Franklin Building present lose the worried, tense expressions they had a few minutes before. The Team represents the generosity of listens to the family and just sits – in that moment in time – providing support, warmth and a very human exchange. Somebody cares. Long after the Team is gone, the child our community and the hard and parents discuss how nice it was to see that wonderful dog. A card is left with a work and generous hearts of picture of the therapy dog and it finds a place to rest in the hospital room – a happy memory – in a scary and big place for a child. our volunteers and donors. Hand in Paw can make a difference. It is happening every day in the greater Birmingham area and even down to Tuscaloosa! Hand in Paw Therapy Teams are about the business of kindness, activating the memory, encouraging communication, enhancing vision and building confidence. Hand in Paw Teams, proudly wearing yellow, are available to the vulnerable. If you haven’t done so already – come for a tour of the facility here in Avondale. Learn how you can help Hand in Paw meet the needs of our Community. Be part of our mission: To improve human health & well-being through Animal-Assisted Therapy.
-MARGARET STINNETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A “Bright Spot” for Hannah How your support provided Hannah positive distraction during her stay at Children’s of Alabama 17-year-old Hannah was born with Spina Bifida and is non-ambulatory. Spina Bifida is a birth defect in which a baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly. In April, Hannah had to visit Children’s of Alabama to have surgery on her shunt which helps drain extra cerebrospinal fluid from her brain. Sound like a scary time? Imagine how Hannah and her mother Margaret felt. Thanks to you, Hannah received a comforting visit from Kirby the therapy dog during a difficult time.
Hannah gets a calming visit during Hannah’s mother, Margaret, recalls, “Kirby added a bright spot in her day. Hannah’s older sister has 3 pugs so that time thanks to YOU. made it even better. She told her sister all about the visit. Kirby was well-behaved and let Hannah pet him. She really liked receiving a visit.”.
a difficult
Your generosity ensures that Hannah and many other kids at Children’s of Alabama get to experience the comfort and joy Hand in Paw Therapy Teams provide. As you know, the stress, pain and worry from hospital stays can be taxing for all parties involved, not just for the patients. Having a therapy animal visit allows everyone to step back and “breathe” for a few minutes. Patients, family, and staff alike are allowed the opportunity to be distracted from pain and worry and enjoy the therapeutic calmness of the animal. You and our volunteers make magic happen. The work Hand in Paw does would NOT be possible without your dedication and support. Hannah and her mom thank you, as well as thousands of other families just like them.
Over 100 sites are waiting for Hand in Paw services. We need your help to reach them all.
THERAPY TEAM REQUIREMENTS • Animal is 18 months or older • Must have owned animal for more than 6 months • If dog, must have completed a basic group obedience class • Animal enjoys meeting new people • Animal is good with other animals
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If you are interested in becoming a Therapy Team, please visit HandInPaw.org/Volunteer and fill out an application
Volunteer Spotlight In the past, I had read about animal therapy and always thought it sounded amazing. I just want to spread joy, comfort and give someone a moment to forget their situation. I got Olive in 2015 and just like we all think of our little four legged babies, she was just the sweetest thing. Everyday she showed me how an animal can be compassionate, comforting and love unconditionally. I started thinking, wow, this could be my chance to share her with others; bring them the same joy she brings me everyday. As I started doing simple training at home I saw how smart she was and how much she enjoyed having a job. She loves treats but her biggest joy is being praised when she does something right. That’s when it really hit me that she would be great at therapy work; she craves human interaction. I Googled animal-assisted therapy and found Hand in Paw. We started training more formally in the spring of 2016. It was tough, but the more we trained the stronger our bond became and our foundation as a team was formed. We have been a therapy team with HIP since December of 2016. When we first started as a team we did the Pawsitive Living Program. For those unfamilier, Pawsitive Living provides a chance to change a child’s life forever. Every child deserves to know that they are loved and cared about. They deserve to know that they mean something to someone in the world and we show that to them with every visit. Every 12-week term they get to bond with the dogs, teach the dogs commands and learn I was speechless. patience as they Olive did that. teach them. They achieve a feeling She gave that child a of satisfaction moment to forget all the the first time the dog obeys them. bad about the sickness. They can say to themselves, “wow
Stephanie Stoltzner + Olive written by Stephanie Stoltzner
I did that!”. Recently I was at an event with Olive and a woman came up to me, she said “is this The Olive from Hand in Paw?” I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself “The Olive”. But, I said yes she is. The woman went on to tell me that she was a social worker who works with some of the kids Olive had influenced. She had heard stories and seen the pictures the boys kept in their rooms. She told me how much Olive meant to them. It touched my heart to know how much of a positive impact Olive had made on them. These children have had a positive effect on our life as well. They have blessed us. I want them to know that they have a purpose in this world and just like they succeeded in teaching Olive to listen, they can succeed in life regardless of obstacles. Another memorable visit was at Children’s of Alabama. We were on a Wednesday night visit and I noticed a woman standing back watching me and Olive holding something in her hands. But none of the children visiting with us seemed to belong to her. Once there was a gap in our visits she walked over to us and said “is this Olive”? Once I responded yes, she turned the object she was holding around and it was a picture her daughter painted of Olive the month before. We met the young girl on our previous visit and she spent almost an hour with us. Her mom told me that her daughter wasn’t feeling well enough for a visit but she wanted to make sure Olive saw her painting. Her mom said she painted the picture of Olive so that she could see her anytime she wanted and she hung it on her hospital room wall. I was speechless. Olive did that. She gave that child a moment to forget about all the bad about the sickness. Olive meant something that special to her. Olive is not just my dog she is my best friend, my heart and I hope that I can continue to share her for a very long time.
Rest in Peace, Scottie
The Talk of Tuscaloosa Your gifts bring calm and comfort to people in need In 1996, Animal-Assisted Therapy existed on very few radar screens, and it certainly was not being used in Birmingham, Alabama. Fast-forward to today, and because of your generous support, Hand in Paw Therapy Teams are a familiar sight in Greater Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Gifts given to expand Hand in Paw’s “paw print” have made it possible to hire Carol DeVelice, part-time Tuscaloosa Coordinator and Therapy Team Handler. Carol is actively recruiting more volunteers, making contact in the community and finding supporters for the mission of Hand in Paw.
Carol DeVelice with Maggie
Carol’s initial inspiration to pursue volunteering with Hand in Paw came from a visit from Tuscaloosa’s first Therapy Team, Jackie & Scottie, in 2011. Jackie & Scottie Visiting She was battling cancer and Jackie and Scottie “brought peace during a DCH Health Systems very scary time in my life”, says Carol. These visits struck a chord, and after she defeated cancer, Carol immediately began the volunteering process to be able to bring comfort to others just as Jackie and Scottie had brought comfort to her.
Jackie and Scottie touched many lives during their time as a Therapy Team in Tuscaloosa. Vicki Shay, Hand in Paw’s Technology Administrator and Obedience Trainer, recalls, “Both of them loved people and displayed that love with such enthusiasm. Jackie worked very hard and as Scottie matured, they both learned to channel their enthusiasm to become an amazing Therapy Team.” Unfortunately Scottie passed this year, but his memory lives on in everyone he met. Because of your efforts in helping Hand in Paw grow, Tuscaloosa now has 8 active teams that visit places such as RISE, DCH Health Systems, Capstone Village, WOW, and more. Hand in Paw is excited to touch the lives of more people with your help, just as Jackie & Scottie touched Carol and made a lifelong impact.
New Birmingham Volunteers Liz & Toby, Georgie & Niki Retired Teams: Caroline & Yuki, Cathy & Shadow, Jill & Jasper, Judy & Karma, Kwonna & Kobe Passed Away: Candice McCool’s Lily, Alex Mann’s Harley, Holly Miller’s Champ, Susan Molloy’s Tiger Moved: Aj & Koda, Mitchell & Brayan, Laura Davis
Thanks for Struttin’ Your Mutts Despite of the dreary weather, we are so excited to share that the 10th Annifursary of Mutt Strut grossed over $67,000, making it our highest grossing dog-friendly 5k and fun run yet! Over 1,200 dog lovers and running enthusiasts came out and enjoyed the pawty filled with vendors, doggos, snacks, music and races. Mutt Strut is led by the fabulous Hand in Paw Junior Board who worked diligently to make the 10th annifursary a success. We are so thankful for the support of our sponsors, vendors, runners, volunteers and Junior Board and cannot wait for Mutt Strut 2020! Mutt Strut is Hand in Paw’s second largest fundraising event. Proceeds benefit our Animal-Assisted Therapy programs which touch the lives of people dealing with emotional and physical life challenges. Hand in Paw services are free thanks to supporters like YOU.
Presented by Veterinary Eye Care in Memory of Christopher Nelms
Sponsors include: Alabama Magazine, UAB Medicine, Chick-Fil-A 5 Points, ABC 33/40, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Creative Dog Training, Dog Days of Birmingham, Medical Properties Trust, UAB Medicine Callahan Eye Hospital, Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln, Dog U, Hollywood Feed, On Services, Standifer’s Animal Clinic, Valleydale Animal Clinic, Vestavia Animal Clinic, Avondale Animal Hospital, Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company, We Talk Dog, Glass Eye Media, Steel City Puppies
You're invited to
PICASSO PETS HAND IN PAW’S
Signature Auction Presented by Medical Properties Trust
August 17 th • The Grand Bohemian
Join us for the 19th Annual Picasso Pets, Hand in Paw’s unique signature auction! The event will take place on Saturday, August 17 from 6-10pm at The Grand Bohemian in Mountain Brook Village. Guests can mingle with our star therapy animals, peruse a top-notch silent auction, sip craft beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, enjoy a delicious seated dinner, and participate in an incredible live auction. And this year the spotlight is on Presenters like Idie Hastings and Kim and Corbin Day, whose pets painted with local artists. The artistic theme for the night and inspiration for the 2019 Face of Picasso Pets, Trooper Yancey, is the work of American artist Jeff Koons. Guests are encouraged to dress in colorful cocktail to match the theme!
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Purchase tickets by visiting PicassoPets.com
With your help, Hand in Paw now has oncall Therapy Teams to perform Trauma & Grief visits following traumatic events.
Escaping the Chaos On the anniversary of the traumatic UAB Highlands shooting, you were there to provide a calming outlet for UAB staff On a Wednesday evening last March, longtime UAB Highlands nursing supervisor, Nancy Turnage Swift, was fatally shot by a disgruntled employee. This was only a week after another shooting at Huffman High School. One can only imagine the fear, trauma, and sadness UAB Highlands employees must have felt that night and still feel today. Flash back to 2017: your support enabled Hand in Paw to launch a Trauma & Grief program designed to be a conduit for person-to-person communication. It gives counselors at the site a tool for breaking barriers, building rapport, and making progress towards healing following traumatic events. With your help establishing the program and training on-call volunteers, Hand in Paw Therapy Teams were ready to visit the UAB Highlands staff shortly after the shooting. The therapy teams provided a calming and nonjudgmental space to talk and express emotions. But you weren’t just there for the UAB Highlands staff following the initial shooting, you were also there for them 1 year later. Carolyn Matthews, Volunteer Coordinator for UAB Medicine, explains the impact; “It was just wonderful to see the staff as they came to the media center get on the floor and interact with the teams. They spoke of their own pets and for many of us, our pets bring joy into our lives. As the teams visited with staff, it was nice to see them relax and have a calming moment from their hectic day.” Hand in Paw could have never helped UAB
Highlands in this way without the support of our volunteers and donors. While no one hopes that this program will have to be used very often, it’s comforting to know that you are there for the community when they need it most. “Last year when I went on visits with our teams, our staff seemed so on edge. Having pet therapy just seemed to me an escape for the chaos they were living in. A year later, it hasn’t gotten any easier to live with the events of that day, but staff are learning to cope”, added Carolyn. Thank you for your incredible impact!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Idie Hastings
Why Give to Hand in Paw?
Vice President Jennifer Buettner Treasurer S. Rachel Goodson Secretary Jimmy Johnson Member at Large John M. Harbert, II Members Carrie Doescher William Finney Laura Gosney Alicia Kay Haynes Harrison Irons Melanie Lewis Niki Lim Marion Marx Kristen McGee Susan R. Nelms Joshua Randolph Melea L. Sims Goolsby Joan Stelling Scott Vowell Jim Wilson Kimberlea Wilson HIP STAFF Executive Director Margaret Stinnett Founder/Director of Donor & Community Relations Beth Franklin Financial Director Amanda Puskar Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships Ashley Foster Director of Communications Brittany Jennings Tuscaloosa Coordinator Carol DeVelice Director of Volunteers & Programs Kiersten Atkinson Outreach Coordinator Lisa McNair Volunteer Coordinator Stacey Roudebush Program Coordinator Tripp Windham Technology Administrator Vicki Shay Administrative Volunteers Barbara Young Carol Speed
There are as many answers to that question as there are smiles on the faces of people whose lives are made better by Hand in Paw. Think about it. Hand in Paw’s animal/handler teams aren’t chosen at random. Each animal and handler must undergo rigorous, and expensive, training and evaluation. Once they’ve successfully negotiated the lengthy education and evaluation process, their visits are monitored and subject to constant oversight and counseling. All these quality control measures are expensive - in terms of staff, materials, time and money. But, from the beginning, Hand in Paw has believed the investment in quality pays off. We don’t just “think” our Hand in Paw therapy teams are suitable for the life-changing therapeutic work they provide in the community; we KNOW they are. Last year, Hand in Paw teams made over 150,000 contacts with the most vulnerable people in our community, bringing hope, healing and unconditional love to our young, our elderly, our frail and our dying. Hand in Paw has never charged the 107 facilities we serve in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount & Tuscaloosa Counties for our services, but if you asked any of them, they’d tell you the Hand in Paw visits are priceless. Because of our Hand in Paw teams’ efforts, their patients and clients are motivated to achieve therapeutic goals, to use muscles that are weak, and to open closed lines of communication....all with less staff intervention, less medication and less emotional stress. Your financial contribution to Hand in Paw is the ink with which many, many happy endings are written. Without your participation, there would be fewer animals and handlers in training, fewer staff to train and supervise them, fewer visits, fewer achievements and fewer smiles. Thank you for making our work possible. We consider you a valuable part of the Hand in Paw family. Your gift enriches the lives of thousands each year.
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Donate to Hand in Paw by visiting HandInPaw.org/Donate or use the envelope enclosed
Hand in Paw 617 38th Street South | Bham Al, 35222 (205) 322-5144
@HandInPawAL