By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The School Department has successfully raised the funds needed in order to receive a classroom assistance dog, Superintendent Kristen Vogel said during the School Committee’s Dec. 7 meeting.
Vogel recalled that the district was accepted into the NEADS World Class Services Dog program last spring. In order to be awarded an assistance dog, the School Department was required to raise $8,000 for NEADS as part of a fundraiser. The district raised $8,225.
“We have exceeded our fundraising goal,” said Vogel. “We are incredibly grateful. All of the money will go toward training these wonderful dogs.”
Elementary Special Education Team Chairperson Nicole Hyde-Bradford, who will be the dog’s handler, echoed Vogel’s sentiment in an email sent to the Villager.
“The Lynnfield community and School Department truly went above and beyond the call to raise funds in support of the NEADS World Class Service Dog program,” stated Hyde-Bradford. “Our families continue to support the school community’s focus on social and emotional learning, and it feels incredible to have accomplished such a large fundraising goal. With the funds raised, we are able to contribute to the success NEADS has had on positively impacting the lives of individuals, families and communities with their dogs.”
Hyde-Bradford said school officials are not sure when the assistance dog will be coming to Lynnfield.
“NEADS dogs drive the decision about which program they are best suited for and when they are ready to be matched with their specific client,” stated Hyde-Bradford. “We don’t have a timeline on when the right dog will become available. NEADS dogs train for 14 to 18 months, and learn between 50 and 60 varying tasks. Their dogs receive specialized training and learn to become people-oriented, sociable, friendly and well-mannered. Each dog’s temperament and personality drive the decisions to match a client. NEADS is incredible with keeping their clients updated with regular emails on the breeding, training and selection processes. We hope that the right match for the community will be made soon.”
Hyde-Bradford noted that NEADS’ dogs “drive the decision about which program they are best suited for and when they are ready to be matched with their specific client.”
“NEADS prides itself on training service and assistance dogs to the greatest extent possible,” stated Hyde-Bradford. “There are dogs that are currently being trained and when the right match is made for us, we will get the call. From there, as the handler, I will visit the training campus in Princeton to prepare for the assistance dog’s arrival.”
Hyde-Bradford was amazed that the district completed its $8,000 fundraising goal in just seven months.
“The community really came together in our effort to help raise funds for NEADS World Class Service Dogs,” stated Hyde-Bradford. “There were many that played a key role in our fundraising efforts. Superintendent Vogel and the School Committee provided updates and information about the fundraising progress. I also could not have reached the Lynnfield community without the help of our school principals and our Huckleberry Hill and Summer Street PTOs. Our very own teachers and staff contributed to our fundraiser, and their efforts made an impact on our $8,000 goal.”
Hyde-Bradford said the district received “many generous donations” from community members and businesses over the course of the fundraising campaign.
“Two Wakefield Co-operative Bank employees who are Lynnfield residents nominated our fundraiser for the bank’s ‘Jeans Day’ fundraiser,” said Hyde-Bradford. “We also had an extremely generous donation from the Law Office of Colonna, Doyle & Simeola, which helped us raise over $1,000 in funds. Most impressively, we had a group of Huckleberry Hill elementary students hold a lemonade stand that raised over $100. In November, our Summer Street PTO helped close our fundraising goal by donating the remaining $250 from funds raised through Summer Street’s Race for Education. Each donation positively impacted our fundraising efforts and without every single person taking the time to donate, this would not have been possible. I would like to thank everyone who donated to the fundraiser.”
Summer Street PTO Race for Education Co-Chairs Lauren Wolf and Betsy Ragalevsky said in a joint statement that it was an honor to help support the assistance dog fundraiser.
“Thanks to the generosity of Summer Street School families and friends, we exceeded our fundraising goals for this year’s Race for Education,” stated Wolf and Ragalevsky in an email sent to the Villager. “The SSS PTO board unanimously supported a $250 donation to NEADS to ensure their fundraising goal was met and to help purchase an assistance dog for the Lynnfield school district.”
Vogel thanked the Summer Street PTO for making “the very generous donation.”
“It helped us reach our fundraising goal,” said Vogel. “We also received donations from other families and businesses in the community that we greatly appreciate.”
