International Hearing Dog, Inc.
“Paws for silence”
A non-profit organization, tax exempt#84-0779444
Lions, get your dog’s costume ready…and the humans can dress up, too!
Your Lions Club is invited to join International Hearing Dog on Saturday, October 30, 2010 from 11am-2pm at the Highlands Ranch Petco in the parking lot, for our first “Dog-o-Ween and Tailgate!”
International Hearing Dog (IHDI) is a Colorado based non-profit organization dedicated to training dogs to assist persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, with and without multiple disabilities, at no cost to the recipient. Each Hearing Dog is not only provided free of charge, but placed nationwide, including Canada. This year, we are celebrating 31 years of service and the placement of our 1,100th Hearing Dog. Each Hearing Dog is rescued from local shelters and trained to respond to sounds such as the door, phone, baby cry, alarms, etc. In return for a loving home, the Hearing Dog restores awareness, independence, and provides a sense of security to those who previously depended on family, friends or electronic devices to alert them to sounds in the home.
To celebrate 31 years of service to the hearing impaired community and to animal shelter dogs, our highlight of the year is IHDI’s “Dog-o-Ween and Tailgate!” To make this event as special as it should, I am asking for your Lions Club’s help today. Would you consider becoming a sponsor to make this event successful? IHDI is currently seeking Lions Sponsors. You may be a Food, Beverage, Dessert, or Prize Sponsor for as little as $100!
By being a sponsor, you will help cover costs to host the event. By doing so, we can ensure all donations will be directly put to use for adopting more dogs, caring for, training, and placing more Hearing Dogs for free, nationwide, with deaf and hard of hearing persons in need.
It is important to us that our sponsors are recognized for support and because of that, there will be many media and social outlets that we will access to highlight your contribution or club’s gift. Please see the attachment to for Sponsorship Opportunities. Whether you decide a sponsorship is right for your club, please save the date for IHDI’s pet and family-friendly, “Dog-o-Ween and Tailgate!” We hope to see all the Lions there! Compete in the dog costume contest or decorate the back of your vehicle in your favorite Halloween theme and hand out pet and human friendly trick-or-treats. Celebrity judges will pick the winners, and the top three dog costumes and best decorated tailgate will be named and awarded. Pictures of the winners will be highlighted on our Web site, Facebook, and quarterly “Paws for Silence” Newsletter. The event is free to the public although donations are greatly appreciated. To compete in the Dog-o-Ween costume or tailgate contest is $15 each or $25 for both. Please email or call Lisa at or 303.287.3277 to sign up!
IHDI is completely funded by donations from individuals, foundation grants, and Lions Clubs like yours! Even though IHDI has trained and placed more than 1,100 Hearing Dogs since 1979, including more than 250 in Colorado, the demand for these special helpers continues to increase. Every year IHDI receives hundreds of requests for applications from people from all walks of life. It costs approximately $7,000 to care for, train, and place one Hearing Dog, which requires the help of all our supporters and many new ones. We ask you for your sponsorship in bringing these special animals together with people who will give them a loving home in return for awareness and independence.
For more information about IHDI, visit our Web site at www.pawsforsilence.org, email for literature, or become a “FAN” of IHDI on Facebook. Commitment and dedication in International Hearing Dog is an investment in the lives of others. Your clubs support and assistance will allow us to continue to improve the lives of those individuals living in a silent world and their canine pair of “ears.” Thank you for your support, IHDI looks forward to your sponsorship, and seeing you at this spook-tacular event!
Sincerely,
Valerie Foss-Brugger
Executive Director & President