“Hi Debra, Hope all is great. We spoke about a new wing of dorm rooms. Are you ready for them? I’m ready to design, construct and pay for the entire project. So, what do you think? “ —Jim Nazzaro
Email from Volunteer Puppy Raiser Jim Nazzaro to Northeast Region Executive Director Debra Dougherty
When my wife and I became volunteer puppy raisers for Canine Companions, it was the best thing that ever happened to us. In 2019, we were introduced to the organization, and it wasn’t long until a little labrador retriever named Zach arrived in our lives. Zach was amazing and from the very beginning we understood the concept that you’re saying goodbye to him someday. But we also knew he was going for a greater good. Zach passed his training with flying colors, and he was matched with Nick, a young man with disabilities from Maryland. Nick and Zach are a dream come true. We are constantly in contact with each other, and Nick shares pictures and videos of the two of them as they go about their daily lives. What really struck us the most is that Canine Companions is filled with a great bunch of people who really dedicate a lot of time to make matches like this happen.
The only reason we haven’t raised another dog is because we travel so much. We didn’t think we could properly do the job of raising a future service dog. I said to myself, “You know what? I could actually make a larger impact doing what I know best, and that being construction.” Northeast Region Executive Director Debra and I were visiting one day, and she told me how the organization is growing by leaps and bounds. But the problem is there are not enough dorm rooms. I hesitated for maybe 30 seconds, and I said, “Well, that’s easy. We’ll just build them! This is a great thing that I could do to make this dream come true and double the amount of service dogs that could go to clients.”
This is probably the last construction project I’m going to do in my career. I’ve been building for 42 years and now I’m ready to slow down a bit. I couldn’t leave on a better note!
I’m really committed to Canine Companions and so happy to help. It’s a great thing about what I do is to take a piece of dirt and create this building, and it will go on and on for years and years. When I’m standing in the hallway of this new dorm project, I’ll be thinking of all the good this organization has done. It’s a great legacy to leave behind!
Groundbreaking for our new wing of dorms at the Northeast Region Miller Family Campus is expected to begin in the spring of 2025.
