Hi Everyone,

My name is Henry.  I'm seven years old and in first grade at St. James School.  In my family dogs aren't just pets, they're helpers at the hospital my mom works at.

Ever since I was a baby, I've gone with my mom and Annabelle to the annual Walk and Play LA fundraiser for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.   We help her captain Team Paws for a Cause which raises money for the therapy dog program she runs.   It's the best team there because it includes dozens of therapy dogs, who take turn all year helping sick kids and their families.  And this year is important so our family is trying to raise $25,000 in honor of the Dog Therapy Program's 25th anniversary (and the hospital's 125th birthday.)  

This part is from my mom:  For 25 years, specially trained therapy dogs and their human handlers have helped children and families navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives with comfort, connection, distraction, motivation, and small moments of joy, respite, and normalcy.   At CHLA, therapy dogs support 41 clinical destinations and are integrated into clinical care to support treatment goals and procedure tolerance.  From the emergency department to the cancer unit, during physical therapy or dialysis, the incorporation of therapy dogs into care can help kids physically and emotionally.  The program sustains a roster of more than 100 therapy dog teams that collectively support roughly 125,000 individuals each year.  Our annual budget is raised every year from philanthropy like this - thousands of individual donations from supporters who understand the importance of helping a child fall asleep easier in an unfamiliar hospital room because a dog has snuggled them for a while, or the value of laughing while playing ball with a pup during physical therapy, or the value of having a dog to sit with a child who doesn't want to talk or answer any more questions or hear any more news, but just wants to feel connected to something real for a while.  A donation in any amount is tax-deductable.  

From Henry again: You can help by making a donation - as big as you can but don't run out of money for you.  Or you can sign up to join our team and then you can come to the event too.  It's pretty fun - they have games and sport things and give away books and you can walk with lots of friendly dogs.  

Thank you!

Henry B.