THE FIDELCO GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION, INC.
103 Old Iron Ore Road, Bloomfield, Conn. 06002
www.fidelco.org

NEWS RELEASE               

For Immediate Release   

Date: October 18, 2010 

Contact: Jack Hayward                      
860-243-4800

 

 

NORMA F. PFRIEM FOUNDATION GRANTS $1 MILLION

TO THE FIDELCO GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION, INC.

 

Endowment Provides Continuity for Fidelco’s

“Successor Guide Dog” Program

 

 

              Bloomfield, Conn. - The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc. (Fidelco) has announced that the Norma F. Pfriem Foundation Inc. of Bridgeport, Conn. has given it a $1 million gift in support of its successor guide dog program. Fidelco successor guide dogs take over when clients’ current guide dogs retire or can no longer serve. Approximately half of the Fidelco placements each year are successor guide dogs.

              The decision to ask for a successor guide dog is difficult and emotional for Fidelco’s clients. It took David Beaupre a long time to request another guide dog from Fidelco after “Tron,” his beloved guide passed away. Today, David holds Tron’s memory close to his heart but he and “Grissom,” his successor dog, have formed a special and unique bond of their own.

Ms. Pfriem and her foundation have donated more than $6 million to Fidelco since 1992 for projects that include the Norma F. Pfriem Pup House, an endowment for our apprentice trainer program and, as part of the Fidelco capital campaign, the building of the Norma F. Pfriem Pavilion. The $1 million grant will be added to a permanent endowment established in 2006 in the name of Norma F. Pfriem.

              “Fidelco is most grateful to be an important part of Ms. Pfriem’s living legacy,” said Eliot D. Russman, Fidelco’s chief executive officer and executive director. “This gift serves as a continuation of our joint effort to promote increased independence and dignity among men and women who are blind by providing them with a Fidelco Guide Dog.”

              The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Bloomfield, Conn., breeds, trains and places its own, unique type of German shepherd guide dogs with people who have visual disabilities. It pioneered In-community Placement in the United States; a process that allows guide dog users to be trained in the communities where they live and work. Now in its 50th year of service, Fidelco relies solely on the gifts and the generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations and civic organizations that partner with us to “Share the Vision.”

 

 

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