February 2016
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Pet a PAALS
  - February 23
     (USC Campus)

South Carolina Assistive Technology Expo
   - March 3
     (Brookland Banquet and  
      Conference Center)

Ungala
  - March 5
    (SC State Museum)

Veterans Fair
   - March 8 
     (Brookland Baptist)

Summer PAALS
  - June 6-10
    (PAALS & Red Barn Retreat)
  - June 20-24
    (PAALS)
  - July 11-15
    (PAA
Connect With Us
  
Party with PAALS: The Fun Awaits
Join us for our UN-Gala!

   Please join us for the 8th annual Party with PAALS - an UN-Gala. The event will be held Saturday, March 5th, from 7PM to 11PM  at the South Carolina State Museum.  Party with PAALS - an UN-Gala is one of the area's most unique fundraisers and PAALS' largest event of the year. 
   As this is an  UN-Gala, leave your cocktail dresses and suits at home and come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character (or just casual if you prefer).  As you plan your attire, remember this is a 21 and up party, so don't worry about scaring the kids.
   As always, there will be lots of food, entertainment, silent and live auctions, fun games and, of course, plenty of adult beverages.  To find out more about the event and to reserve your tickets today, please click here .
PAALS Returns Home
Thanks to your help we are back in our facility!
   After over four months of repairs and reparations in our building, PAALS was finally able to move back home to our new facility in time for the new year. Being able to start 2016 off right was so meaningful to all of us and something we could not have done without the help and support of our sponsors and volunteers. They have allowed us to refocus on our mission of changing lives for the better.

Our first ever Weekend PAALS Class in the new  building
 
   We finished up our GoFundMe Campaign earlier this month after raising over $30,000.00! Thank you to all those who contributed and shared our cause with your friends and family. The outpouring of support and generosity we received was overwhelming.

Murray ready to greet all our visitors!
New Arrivals!
PAALS welcomes 3 new puppies in training!
   Thanks to your help getting us back into our building, we are finally able to take on more future service dogs to begin training. Thanks to our friends at Project 2 Heal for providing the puppies and to our name sponsors for providing the funds to kick-start their training!

Above is Mr. Black. Bottom left is Reese and bottom right is Woody!

Giving Tree Success
Thanks to all who donated!
   Our sincerest gratitude and appreciation goes out to all those who donated to our Giving Trees set up around the city during the holiday season. Donations like yours help us enter the new year with full toy baskets and wagging tails. 
  Another big thank you to all our supporting organizations that allowed us to place our Giving Trees with them including Mill Creek Pet Food Center, Gregg Animal Hospital, St. Andrews Animal Hospital, Dutch Fork Animal Hospital, Grace Animal Hospital, and White Knoll Animal Hospital.

 

Volunteer of the Year & Spirit of PAALS Winners
Help us celebrate!
   Yet again this year, PAALS was lucky to have such tough decisions to make for our Volunteer of the Year and Spirit of PAALS awards. We have hundreds of dedicated and important individuals to choose from so it says a lot that these two lovely ladies were chosen! Congratulations to Adrianna and Nancy!

Volunteer of the Year
   A truly dedicated volunteer who has worked with PAALS from the start, Adrianna has saved PAALS thousands of dollars over the years with her skills as a talented seamstress.  Every single PAALS patch you see, be it on a pouch, a cape, etc., is sewn on by Adrianna herself.  She spends her own time and money piecing back together the numerous dog beds, toys, leashes, places, treat pouches, and so much more that our dogs get their paws on.  Each and every dog that PAALS has placed in the past nine years has been placed with a specific, personalized cape handmade by Adrianna.  Ever flexible, and accommodating, Adrianna is certain to finish projects for us even when they are given to her at the last possible moment.  PAALS is lucky to have such a talented and generous volunteer.
 

Spirit of PAALS
   Nancy practically lived at our new facility, taking on painting, and cleaning our entrance and admin office. She did this in addition to selling her house, moving, fostering dogs, and contending with her own new home flooding during the statewide flood. She is always smiling and supportive!
Quotation of the Month
"Ones best success come after their greatest disappointments."
        - Henry Ward Beecher      
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
About PAALS
PAALS is South Carolina 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to enriching and empowering children and adults with physical disabilities and social needs by training service dogs and providing animal assisted educational and recreational activities. PAALS relies on a network of volunteers and private donations to perform this mission. PAALS does not receive any government funding. PAALS is the only Assistance Dog International (ADI) accredited program based in South Carolina.