Welcome to Lauren and Charlie's Page
Charlie and I are participating in CHLA's Walk and Play L.A. event on May 18. We are part of the Team Paws for a Cause.
If you understand the power of dog therapy, I hope you’ll join me and help support my fundraising efforts with a tax-deductible donation to Children's Hospital Los Angeles that supports the Dog Therapy Program. Our program is entirely donor-funded and relies on this fundraising event to raise a meaningful part of the annual operating budget.
In 2023: on average, 900 patients each month benefited from individualized dog therapy visits, at the bedside, during treatment, while participating in therapy, or while visiting an outpatient clinic. Therapy dogs provided 76,000 interactions, and the demand for both broader and more specialized support continues to grow.
Last year, our program supported a roster of nearly 100 therapy dogs (including Charlie)! Our teams are educated, tested, and trained to serve in this special capacity. The program supports inpatients, outpatients, families, employees, and the broader CHLA community through a variety of programming that ranges from a specific one-on-one treatment-goal-focused interaction to regular drop-in sessions open to all.
Despite it having been a lifelong dream of mine to be a part of a therapy dog team, now that I’m here doing it I’m finding it to be been even more rewarding and fulfilling than I imagined. Charlie and I have had the chance to connect with incredible kids, families, and staff at each one of our visits. I imagine being at the hospital can be a dark time-- it’s so powerful to be able to shine some light into the day for those we get the opportunity to interact with. In just one visit I so often watch a child's affect completely change because of Charlie. And even for those who still are feeling flat or low during and after our visit, there is an emotional connection they share with their canine companion and a release that is felt as Charlie quietly cuddles with them allowing them to share the load of their emotions and worries.
Despite it having been a lifelong dream of mine to be a part of a therapy dog team, now that I’m here doing it I’m finding it to be been even more rewarding and fulfilling than I imagined. Charlie and I have had the chance to connect with incredible kids, families, and staff at each one of our visits. I imagine being at the hospital can be a dark time-- it’s so powerful to be able to shine some light into the day for those we get the opportunity to interact with. In just one visit I so often watch a child's affect completely change because of Charlie. And even for those who still are feeling flat or low during and after our visit, there is an emotional connection they share with their canine companion and a release that is felt as Charlie quietly cuddles with them allowing them to share the load of their emotions and worries.
The families and staff at the hospital often benefit from the dog therapy just as much as the patients. A children's hospital is a heavy place to spend your time!
I truly feel our impact each time we go and with each interaction!
Thank you for your support!
With much gratitude,
Lauren and Charlie
Achievements
Milestone
Raised the amount of money defined for this milestone
Personal Gift
Has made a donation to this event
Personal Progress:
of Goal
$7,350
Raised
$7,500.00
Fundraising Honor Roll
Lauren, Charlie, and Wesley Berkett
Jack and Hedy
Dragoon Family
Judy and Tom Flesh
Martha and Barry Berkett
$1,000
Jessica, Daniel Flesh and family
$250
Jeff & Marybeth Berkett
$250
laub family
$250
Ross Family
Winnick Family
$250
Denise & Sheldon Kravitz
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