In “You Needed Me”, PAWS® Assistance Dog ARCHER shares his journey from birth to being placed with his partner, Jill. OW do you tell PAWS’ story in a way that friends from five years old to 85 years H young can understand and enjoy? That was the challenge posed by volunteer Katie King to PAWS staff and our marketing partner Scott Allen Creative more than a year ago. We went to the drawing board and the concept YOU of filming PAWS’ tale from the perspective of one of our dogs caught on. As much as we loved the idea, we didn’t have two years to chronicle one dog’s journey from birth to placement on a Client Dog Team. We had six months to complete video production, so we took a page from Hollywood and put out a casting call for some stand-ins. This is how Assistance Dog ARCHER’s story came to be. NEEDED One of our Breeding Stock Hosts, the Fles family, volunteered PAWS Mama Dog ADEL and her three-week-old babies to play puppy ARCHER and his family. ADEL and the puppies were excellent ME actors for us in these opening scenes. And the Fleses were tremendously patient everywhere for days on end. (This during the six hours we invaded their is about as close to being on reality home with crews and equipment to TV as Jill ever wants to get!) capture them on film! For us, cutting hours of footage Foster Puppy Raiser Mary made into a less-than-ten-minute video her acting debut with Foster Puppy was harder than wrangling ADEL’s MURPHY, who won the role of teen puppies! But we have it on good ARCHER. Beginning when MURPHY authority that recording ARCHER’s was six months old, the production narration was a hoot: we were documented major Foster Puppy privileged to have Kevin Yon (who milestones, meaning MURPHY voices commercials for Chrysler, basically grew up on camera. among other national brands) Youcould say he was born to play lend his talents to our project. His this part! skilled voice work brings ARCHER – and PAWS’ story – to life. Like many Hollywood stories you read, we wrote our film script with a “You Needed Me” debuted at our particular Client Dog Team in mind. PAWS to CelebrateTM event in To our delight, that team, Jill and November, and will become part of ARCHER, graciously agreed to play our presentation materials going themselves in our story. They were forward. You can watch it online at Lights, camera, action! Video production with Foster Puppy fantastic to work with, and endlessly pawswithacause.org. Raiser Mary and Foster Puppy MURPHY at the mall. accommodating as we followed them

ARCHER PROVIDES JILL with THE GETTING TO KNOW CONFIDENCE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTlY JILL AND ARCHER N “You Needed Me”, you see full-time at a West Michigan ARCHER’s growth and training college coordinating tutors and I from newly-born pup to working other educational services. She’s Service Dog through his eyes. You also working towards her second watch how he helps his partner Jill Master’s Degree. Jill has traveled open doors, pick up dropped items in the U.S. and Europe, drives her and get the phone. You discover how own car, and cooks a tasty lemon he makes it possible for Jill to do chicken. The physical limitations many things she would otherwise of her disability mean she has to have a tough time doing on her own. have an attendant come to help her When we set out to tell PAWS’ story in the mornings, but otherwise Jill from the dog’s point of view, we lives on her own, in her own condo knew Jill and ARCHER would be the with ARCHER. perfect pair to play our “grown up” Whether you watch them on video, Client Dog Team. That’s because or meet them in real life, it’s clear “You Needed Me” essentially captures ARCHER does more than bring a day in their life – and when they’re Jill physical independence. He not busy playing themselves in the provides emotional freedom and video, they’re busy living that life! confidence. Truly, they need each Jill, who has low-level quadriplegia other. And that’s a story we’ll never get tired of telling! as a result of a birth injury, works Photography Scott Novitsky Photos by: PAWS volunteer Katie King snuggles a puppy at PAWS To Celebrate last November, while another friend of PAWS waits his turn.

KATIE’S ATIE’S a preschool teacher. She’s also a Katie’sVISION vision was to create an updated PAWS donor and long-time volunteer for PAWS. video that followed the journey of one puppy from K She, her husband Chuck and her family have birth to placement with a client. She wanted a raised Foster Puppies and host PAWS Mama video that told the PAWS story in a way that better Dog SCOUT. Katie has helped in the office, and engaged school kids, but that was appropriate for regularly talks about PAWS’ work at schools and adults, too. to other community groups. Then she and her family foundation stepped in, Because of her close involvement with PAWS, approving a grant for PAWS to produce a new Katie gets to see the impact of her efforts video. “It’s important to our family to donate where first-hand. She hears a client’s excitement we’re invested. We want to be able to see the when we call to say their Assistance Dog is impact, or the outcome, of our giving.” ready. She knows PAWS Dogs make “miracles” In this case, “You Needed Me” is the result. And happen every day for our clients. Katie couldn’t be more thrilled. “You nailed it!” she She also realized our presentation materials smiled, after viewing it the first time. “It’s funny, weren’t as effective at sharing PAWS’ story as and emotional…it’s PAWS’ story exactly how I they could be. “I do a lot of presentations at knew it could be told!” schools,” Katie explained. “Kids want to see what We’re thrilled with it, too. And we thank Katie and Assistance Dogs can do – specific tasks – and the Chuck King and their family for their tremendous video we had didn’t really include scenes like that.” support in making “You Needed Me” possible. AWS’ first major peer-to-peer fundraising effort was a resounding HOST 33 COLLECT GIFTS RAISE MORE THAN P success! In 10 days, PAWS To Be Thankful harnessed the power of social PERSONAL FROM OVER media and our updated website to: CAMPAIGNS 200 DONORS $60,000 To learn more, or to host your own personal campaign for PAWS, please visit pawswithacause.org/personal-campaigns. PAWS TO CELEBRATE 2013 ur second PAWS To Celebrate Our congratulations to Jamie, and special PAWS TO CELEBRATE event was exciting – and not just thanks to Presenting Sponsor, Lighthouse BY THE NUMBERS O because we got to premiere “You Group Insurance & Title, and to Candye Needed Me” that night! Sapp Tribute Award Sponsor, John and Nancy Kennedy, for their support of SPONSORSHIPS As part of our effort to host events rooted in our mission, guests enjoyed a unique the evening. increased opportunity to engage with PAWS staff You can find more pictures of PAWS To and volunteers during the Cocktails and Celebrate 2013 on Facebook: facebook. Activities program. Interactive stations com/pawswithacause. We hope you’ll % showcased the work of our Training, join us at PAWS To Celebrate 2014! 31 Foster Puppy, Breeding and Vet, and Innovation (R&D) Teams. Of course, Attendance the puppies were a huge draw! GREW BY The formal program included the presentation of the Candye Sapp Tribute Award, which PAWS established in % 2012 to “recognize individuals and 44 organizations for their continued commitment to supporting those with WE RAISED disabilities.” Our 2013 honoree was Jamie Mills of the Mills Benefit Group, a longtime, dedicated friend of PAWS $87,432 and philanthropy in West Michigan. Jamie Mills and her dog, Moose.

Paws With A Cause® | www.pawswithacause.org | 800-253-7297 | 4646 South Division, Wayland, MI 49348 Paws With A Cause® 4646 South Division Wayland, MI 49348 www.pawswithacause.org

OUR MISSION GO GREEN Paws With A Cause® enhances the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities To receive PAWS nationally through custom-trained Assistance communications Dogs. PAWS® increases awareness of the rights electronically, email and roles of Assistance Dog Teams through your request and name to: education and advocacy. [email protected]

F you could name a PAWS Puppy, our elite Breeding Stock. Others may I what would you call him (or her)? enter alternate “working” careers NAME A PAWS Naming a future Assistance Dog is a or find adoptive homes. Regardless unique way to honor a special friend, of outcome, we can only name one family member, pet or occasion while PAWS Puppy per request.) supporting the work of Paws With The guidelines for naming a PAWS A Cause®. Puppy are simple. We recommend With a gift of $2,000, you can name easy-to-say names; most two-syllable PUPPY a PAWS Puppy! In return, you and/or names are acceptable. You can select your honoree will receive a certificate a name yourself, or choose one from MAKE A GIFT of naming and regular updates on the our approved name list. puppy throughout the training and To learn more about naming a PAWS placement process. (Please note: Puppy, please contact Joe Dulin, NAME A PUPPY PAWS cannot guarantee that your Director of Advancement, at specially named puppy will be placed [email protected] CHANGE A LIFE as an Assistance Dog. Dogs may join or 800-253-7297.