ICAN Receives Transformational Gift
ZIONSVILLE, INDIANA, March 28, 2022 — Mike and Judy Harrington presented The Indiana Canine Assistance Network (ICAN) with a generous gift of $1.5M. This gift will help expand the organization’s ability to place service dogs within Indiana.
“We’ve been witness to ICAN’s mission for several years now, and believe in what they are doing to create possibilities for people. We desire to see the organization get to the next level, and this gift is to help transition their programming so they can serve more people,” says Judy.
ICAN’s service dog training and placement program has enriched the lives of children and adults with disabilities as they discover a more independent, productive lifestyle. In addition, their partnership with incarcerated individuals during the training process helps provide inmate handlers with a new sense of hope and worth.
“Since 2002, we’ve seen so many lives transformed by our service dogs. However, the training process is extensive and takes an army of staff, volunteers, community partnerships, and donors to make each placement possible,” says Jilian Ashton, President of ICAN.
Mike and Judy have been working with ICAN for some time now to craft a plan to expand organizational capacity. “The significance of this gift will give us the opportunity to take ICAN to the next level, to expand services, hire some key positions, and ultimately, build the necessary infrastructure to reduce the wait time for clients to receive their service dog,” adds Ashton.
The ICAN training process—from birth to placement—takes about two years, and they train and place around 25 service dogs per year. Currently, there are 54 people approved for a service dog with an average wait time of two-and-a-half to three years.
“ICAN has transformed my life since becoming a volunteer nine years ago,” says Judy. “I began volunteering for ICAN so I could pet, and love on a puppy. But my eyes were quickly opened to a huge number of other and bigger assets this program provides.”
This generous donation will help ICAN continue its mission to change lives on both ends of the leash by helping clients and inmate handlers feel empowered, break barriers, and overcome challenges that help them achieve their full self-determined potential.
ABOUT ICAN
ICAN’s mission changes lives on both ends of the leash. Their service dogs provide independence and confidence for children and adults with disabilities and offer purpose and a second chance for inmate handlers.
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Contact: Jillian Ashton
Phone: (317) 250-6450