When 24-year-old Kim Batnick sets out to volunteer at the Special
Olympics USA Games, she’ll be one of many volunteers. But Kim, from
Beachwood, New Jersey, has cerebral palsy and getting around large group
settings can be a challenge. Fortunately Kim will be able to navigate
without worry. Her assistance dog Orson will be by her side, picking up
any items she might drop along the way like her keys or cell phone,
opening doors and being her loyal companion.
Canine Companions for Independence is the nation’s largest provider of
highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with
physical and developmental disabilities. Along with their corporate
partner Prudential Group Insurance, a business unit of New Jersey-based
Prudential Financial, Inc., they’ll be among the thousands of volunteers
supporting the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.
“Prudential is thrilled to be on the ground at the Special Olympics with
our partner, Canine Companions for Independence. The event provides a
wonderful opportunity for us to partner and see firsthand the value the
organization brings and the smiles and services they provide to disabled
individuals in need,” said Jeanna Cavanagh, vice president, marketing,
Prudential Group Insurance.
Kim’s assistance dog Orson is an 8-year-old Labrador and golden
retriever cross who has been trained to respond to over 40 commands.
Orson assists Kim every day by opening and closing drawers and doors,
turning on and off light switches, and retrieving items out of her reach.
Kim and her family are tireless supporters of Canine Companions for
Independence, and are now volunteer puppy raisers for the organization
as well, raising puppy Ocho who was recently placed with a 10-year-old
Virginia girl with intellectual disabilities. Kim and her family are
currently raising their second Canine Companions puppy, Davis.
Kim says Canine Companions and the Special Olympics have similar goals:
promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion of all people with
disabilities. “Our family is looking forward to the Special Olympics,
and meeting all the athletes and fans.”
Prudential announced at the beginning of the year that they signed on as
a Founding Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and Presenting
Sponsor of the Games’ Healthy Athletes Experience, which provides
free comprehensive health screenings to the Games’ nearly 3,500
athletes. The Games is underway through June 21 throughout Mercer
County, New Jersey.
Visit assistance dogs and puppies at the Prudential Group Insurance
booth June 16-19 in Mercer County Park located at 1050 Hughes Drive in
Hamilton Township, New Jersey. To learn more about Canine Companions
visit cci.org
or call 1-800-572-BARK.
About Prudential:
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), a financial services leader with
more than $1.1 trillion of assets under management as of March 31, 2014,
has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping
individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth
through a variety of products and services, including life insurance,
annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment
management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for
strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century.
For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
ABOUT CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE:
Canine Companions for Independence is the largest non-profit provider of
trained assistance dogs with five training centers across the country.
Established in 1975, Canine Companions provides highly trained
assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities and is
recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and quality and
longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no
charge for the dog, its training and on-going follow-up services. For
more information, visit cci.org or
call 1-800-572-BARK.
Copyright Business Wire 2014