FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 22, 2015
CONTACT: Dr. Jerry Hardison, Greater Hartford Host Lions Club

; (860) 236-5831

Greater Hartford Host Lions Club Supports Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation

Bloomfield, Conn. – Dr. Jerry Hardison, on behalf of the Greater Hartford Host Lions Club, recently presented a $1,000 check to Doug Nelson, Vice President, Director of Development,of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. The Greater Hartford Host Lions Club made and sold cotton candy at the Celebrate West Hartford weekend, and the proceeds earned went to support Fidelco.

Dr. Hardison noted his club was fortunate to be able to welcomeFidelco Volunteer Puppy Raisers and their puppies to the event so patrons could see exactly what they were supporting.

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization based in Bloomfield, Connecticut, that promotes increased independence to men and women who are blind by providing them with the highest quality German Shepherd guide dogs. It takes two years, 15,000 hours, and $45,000 to breed, train, and place each guide dog. Fidelco gives these life-changing partners to its blind clients at no cost and provides 24/7 lifetime service to all working guide dog teams.

The Greater Hartford Host Lions Club has been servicing the greater Hartford community for over 90 years. Its members raise funds to assist with their various service projects and charities including free eye exams and glasses for needy children, vision screenings for young children and older adults, yearly scholarships for college bound students, and assistance to Oak Hill and The Village in Hartford, the Lions Eye Research Foundation, and the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford.

More information about the club can be found at: More information about Fidelco can be found at

About Greater Hartford Host Lions Club

In 2014 the West Hartford Lions Club, founded in 1946, joined with the Hartford Host Lions Club, founded in 1922, to formthe Greater Hartford Host Lions Club. The goal of the club, as in the past, will be "To Serve," but now it will be to an expanded area. Support will continue to be given to such vision organizations as the Low Vision Center in New Britain, Oak Hill School, amd Connecticut Radio Information Service for the Blind (CRIS). Scholarship programs will focus on graduating seniors who are college bound. Needy children and adults who require eye exams and/or glasses will be helped. The American School for the Deaf (ASD) and ChildrensVillage wil continue to receive Lions Club support, as will as number of other child and adult organizations.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.

About Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation

The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Bloomfield, CT. Fidelco is an internationally accredited organization and an admired expert throughout the world for its highly valued German Shepherd Guide Dogs.

Each Fidelco Guide Dog takes two years, 15,000 hours and $45,000 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 trained and placed over 1,400 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 all guide dog users to be trained in the communities where they live and work.

Fidelco also has placed hundreds of its German Shepherd Dogs with law enforcement agencies, first responders, and search and rescue and missing child recovery organizations to help protect our fellow citizens and keep our communities safe. For more information visit .

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