Planet Dog Foundation Celebrates Record Year of Giving
Portland, ME (January 22, 2009) — Despite the economic challenges of 2008, the Planet Dog Foundation (PDF) is celebrating another amazing year of giving with 14 grantees and more than $100,000 ($103,150 to be exact) donated to canine service programs nationwide. Through cash grants, sponsorships, special gifts and in-kind donations, PDF has bolstered more than 100 non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in need with the aid of highly skilled specialized dogs. An additional $107,000 worth of in-kind product donations provided auction items and prizes for scores of fundraisers at non-profits throughout the country.
The Planet Dog Foundation is the nonprofit grantmaking organization of Planet Dog, the socially responsible and globally recognized designed and developer of innovative, high-quality and award-winning dog products. A percentage of every Planet Dog purchase goes directly to PDF to support the grantmaking program. Since January, 2006, the Planet Dog Foundation has donated more than half a million dollars in cash grants and product donations to non-profit organizations across the country.
"We continue to make great progress towards our goal to support the people and organizations that enable dogs to give back to people in need," said Kristen Smith, PDF's Executive Director. "We extend grateful thanks to all Planet Dog customers, whose continued loyalty to Planet Dog enables the Planet Dog Foundation to truly make a difference in the lives of hundreds of needy people and the four-legged friends who make their lives whole," added Smith.
The Planet Dog Foundation raises awareness of dogs' significant contributions to society and encourages others to "act" on behalf of these wonderful partners by extending its philanthropy across the country and therefore building relationships with hundreds of people and their canine companions. In 2008, PDF awarded cash grants to the following canine service programs, thus impacting literally hundreds of people in need. Funding therapy dogs, service dogs and search & rescue dogs, they gratefully celebrate all"working" dogs that are enhancing and saving human lives.