The Year of 2013
The Foundation has been accepted to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign for 2013. This campaign is organized by federal employee every year between October and December. Federal employees donate to non-profits of their choice through payroll deductions. Thousands of dollars are raised every year and non-profits have to apply to be accepted to participate in the campaign. We have been participating for 12 years and we have met hundreds of people and seen many changes that have kept the campaign very active each year.
The bloodhound program is still very active after 20 years of existence in the Foundation. We have received request for more bloodhounds this year and the request are pending until final decisions are made to officially receive the dogs from the Foundation. The present request have been submitted by officers in 6 different states. Once final decisions are made, a bloodhound is sought out and flown to the destination to be trained and become an official police dog. Bloodhounds can be active working dogs for at least 8 years and can live to be 10 years old. Supporters making donations to the bloodhound program on a given year are considered the sponsors of bloodhound placed within that year.
We participate in a car donation program and have had a successful program for many years. Recently the program has not been very active and we are concerned and it might come to an end. We want to encourage everybody that can support this program to keep it in mind. We would like to see it continue since it has provided good support for the Foundation for several years. It is such a good program for people that have that vehicle that they no longer need and at the same time support a good cause and receive a good tax deduction at the end of the year. Keep us in mind for your next vehicle donation. The vehicle can be running or not and towing is free and the information can be submitted online or just provided by a simple phone call. We will be providing car donation links soon.
We use Network Solutions as our website builder and their program to create websites has changed. This has set up back since we had to remove all our information from our previous website. We are not working to get our website up and running once again with all the information necessary to communicate with our supporters and the people we serve with your help. You will start to see updated information, pictures, events, and get a better idea of where we have been an where we are going. We also want to keep you posted on the different ways that you can support the Foundation.
Time does fly, I say that because this coming month, June of 2013 will be 20 years since the Foundation has been in existence. It has not been an easy road but it has been the right mission to pursue to do right by Alie Berrelez and the communities throughout our country. Twenty years is a very long time. Hundreds of bloodhounds have come and gone, many officers we met have retired, and small children that we spoke to in the public schools are now in their mid twenties or thirties. And it has all been well worth it because we have done the right thing for those we care for and love.