SAAC Gives Back

SHIRLEY, N.Y. (April 19, 2016) – On Saturday, April 23, the Dowling College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host a “Collars for Dollars” event to support the Canine Companions for Independence organization. A full day of East Coast Conference games at the complex will begin with Baseball hosting St. Thomas Aquinas at 12pm, Softball hosting Molloy College at 12:30pm, Women’s Lacrosse taking on Roberts Wesleyan College at 1pm and Men’s Lacrosse hosting Molloy College at 4pm.

Canine Companions for Independence is a nonprofit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to those with disabilities and veterans, with no cost to those who need them. CCI has had an immense impact on the special needs community, as these dogs have served as companions and helped to positively impact many lives. One of these many lives that have been changed for the better is 13 year old Frankie Cavalli of Plainview, NY. With Frankie’s diagnosis of Autism, he was given his best friend, Victory, through the CCI in August 2013. Since their companionship, Frankie has exponentially grown socially, emotionally and academically. Victory has changed Frankie’s life for the better just as many other service dogs continue to do all over the country.

Because of the positive impact that Victory has had on Frankie, he decided that he wanted to come up with something that would give back to the organization that had given him his best friend. With the help his mother Kelly, Frankie came up with the idea to start Collars for Dollars, a small business that sells dog merchandise in which all the proceeds would go directly to Canine Companions for Independence. His goal was to raise $50,000, enough money to help provide other people with disabilities with a skilled companion. Since then, the Collars for Dollars team has traveled to various events across Long Island selling pet merchandise and spreading awareness for the incredible organization.

Frankie has grown so much as a person since meeting Victory. Even as an eighth grader, he knows the importance of giving back to others and working toward making the world a better place. He is constantly working to give back to the organization that provided him with his best friend. As Collars for Dollars continues to grow, more and more people will be able to receive an companion just like Frankie did. Our motto has become “making this world a better place for people with disabilities” and we hope to continue to exemplify that motto every day!