Blinded Military Hero & U.S. Paralympic Triple Medalist to Receive Guide Dog from Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Bloomfield, CT, June 06, 2013 --(PR.com)-- He captured the hearts of America and inspired the world during the 2012 London Paralympic Games with his incredible story of courage and determination against all odds. Now U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder is getting a new “leash” on life from Connecticut’s own Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, an internationally recognized guide dog school.
Lt. Snyder, a 2006 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was blinded by an improvised explosive device on September 7, 2011 while serving in Afghanistan as an explosive ordnance disposal officer. Exactly one year later on Sept. 7, 2012, he stepped onto the top podium at the London 2012 Paralympic Games to accept his second gold medal in swimming. Snyder earned a total of three medals at the 2012 Games.
On Thursday, June 6th, the media is invited to Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Bloomfield to interview Lt. Snyder as he test walks several Fidelco German Shepherd Guide Dogs. Interviews can be arranged anytime between 9 a.m. and noon.
“Fidelco is honored and privileged to become Brad’s partner by providing him with the highest quality German Shepherd guide dog available anywhere in the world,” said Eliot D. Russman, Fidelco’s CEO and Executive Director. “And Fidelco is fortunate that it has a partnership with the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) -- which provided the funding for Lt. Snyder’s guide dog -- as well as the support of ACLI’s CEO, Governor Dirk Kempthorne.”
Fidelco is Connecticut’s own and New England’s only guide dog school. It takes two years and $45,000 to produce a Fidelco Guide Dog, which the non-profit provides at no cost to its clients. For more than 50 years, Fidelco has been serving clients from all walks of life, including veterans from the Korean War era to the present.
Who: U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder (USNA ’06), Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
What: Blinded military hero & Paralympic champion receives life-changing guide dog from Connecticut non-profit Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Where: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield CT 06002
When: Thursday, June 6th 2013; call Heidi at 860-906-2086 to arrange interview time
About Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Fidelco is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Bloomfield, CT, that breeds, trains and places its own, unique “breed within a breed” of German Shepherd Guide Dogs with men and women who are blind. Each Fidelco Guide Dog costs $45,000 and takes two years to produce. They are given to clients at no cost.
Fidelco provides 24/7 client support for the entire working life of its guide dogs – typically 10+ years. Fidelco relies solely on the generosity and financial support of individuals, foundations, corporations and civic organizations to help Share the Vision®.
Fidelco has placed over 1,300 German Shepherd Guide Dogs throughout North America – in 41 states and five Canadian provinces. Fidelco pioneered “In-Community placement” in the United States — a process that allows guide dog users to be trained in the communities where they live and work.
Fidelco has also placed hundreds of its German Shepherd Dogs with law enforcement agencies; first responders; search and rescue; and missing child recovery organizations to help protect our fellow citizens and keep them safe. For more information, please visit www.fidelco.org or “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/fidelcoguidedog
Contact: Heidi Voight, Director of Communications, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
860-906-2086 Cell; 860-243-4800 Office hvoight@fidelco.org
***Interviews available this Thursday June 6th***
Lt. Snyder, a 2006 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was blinded by an improvised explosive device on September 7, 2011 while serving in Afghanistan as an explosive ordnance disposal officer. Exactly one year later on Sept. 7, 2012, he stepped onto the top podium at the London 2012 Paralympic Games to accept his second gold medal in swimming. Snyder earned a total of three medals at the 2012 Games.
On Thursday, June 6th, the media is invited to Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Bloomfield to interview Lt. Snyder as he test walks several Fidelco German Shepherd Guide Dogs. Interviews can be arranged anytime between 9 a.m. and noon.
“Fidelco is honored and privileged to become Brad’s partner by providing him with the highest quality German Shepherd guide dog available anywhere in the world,” said Eliot D. Russman, Fidelco’s CEO and Executive Director. “And Fidelco is fortunate that it has a partnership with the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) -- which provided the funding for Lt. Snyder’s guide dog -- as well as the support of ACLI’s CEO, Governor Dirk Kempthorne.”
Fidelco is Connecticut’s own and New England’s only guide dog school. It takes two years and $45,000 to produce a Fidelco Guide Dog, which the non-profit provides at no cost to its clients. For more than 50 years, Fidelco has been serving clients from all walks of life, including veterans from the Korean War era to the present.
Who: U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder (USNA ’06), Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
What: Blinded military hero & Paralympic champion receives life-changing guide dog from Connecticut non-profit Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Where: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield CT 06002
When: Thursday, June 6th 2013; call Heidi at 860-906-2086 to arrange interview time
About Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Fidelco is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Bloomfield, CT, that breeds, trains and places its own, unique “breed within a breed” of German Shepherd Guide Dogs with men and women who are blind. Each Fidelco Guide Dog costs $45,000 and takes two years to produce. They are given to clients at no cost.
Fidelco provides 24/7 client support for the entire working life of its guide dogs – typically 10+ years. Fidelco relies solely on the generosity and financial support of individuals, foundations, corporations and civic organizations to help Share the Vision®.
Fidelco has placed over 1,300 German Shepherd Guide Dogs throughout North America – in 41 states and five Canadian provinces. Fidelco pioneered “In-Community placement” in the United States — a process that allows guide dog users to be trained in the communities where they live and work.
Fidelco has also placed hundreds of its German Shepherd Dogs with law enforcement agencies; first responders; search and rescue; and missing child recovery organizations to help protect our fellow citizens and keep them safe. For more information, please visit www.fidelco.org or “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/fidelcoguidedog
Contact: Heidi Voight, Director of Communications, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
860-906-2086 Cell; 860-243-4800 Office hvoight@fidelco.org
***Interviews available this Thursday June 6th***
Contact
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation
Heidi Voight
860-243-4800
www.fidelco.org
Heidi Voight
860-243-4800
www.fidelco.org
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