Hanscom Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors presented its annual Board Memorial Award to America’s VetDogs, which places highly skilled service and guide dogs with disabled veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. The $1,500 grant, which honors past and present Hanscom FCU board members, is given annually to a volunteer group that serves Hanscom Federal Credit Union’s membership base.
America’s VetDogs operates a prison puppy program, where puppies live at correctional facilities like Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Shirley, MA. The puppies are trained by inmates Monday through Friday and spend weekends in a local puppy sitter’s home. After up to 15 months of training with inmates, the dogs are sent to America’s VetDogs’ headquarters for final training and placement with a veteran, service member, or first responder in need.
“America’s VetDogs is an organization that not only helps those who’ve given so much to our country,” said Ray Phillips, Hanscom FCU’s chairman of the board, “but does so in a way that will enrich these veterans’ lives forever. As a dog owner myself, I have some experience with how our canine friends can change lives for the better, so I’m pleased that we’ve chosen America’s VetDogs this year to receive the 2019 Board Memorial Award.”
L to R - Ray T. Phillips, Chairman of the Board, Hanscom FCU; Paula Giardinella, Prison Program Manager, America’s VetDogs; Raymond A. Kahre, Board Member, Hanscom FCU; Paul Marotta, Chairman Emeritus, Hanscom FCU; Hugh W. McNeil, Board Member, Hanscom FCU; David Sprague, President/CEO; Hanscom FCU.