Letters to IHDI
IHDI appreciates to hear from our Board, Donors, Friends, Recipients and Supporters. Here are some of the wonderful notes we have received. The staff at IHDI is humbled to know that the passion we feel for the mission of training and placing Hearing Dogs nation-wide with people in need, is appreciated and acknowledged by those we work with and serve. Thank you!
From Board Member, Dr. Margaret Montana
"It is a pleasure that I am writing to encourage your support of IHDI.
As a Board Member for over 10 years, I rank my participation and support of IHDI as one of the truly rewarding and ‘good things' I do. I have watched Martha Foss, Valerie Foss-Brugger, and the rest of the Board and staff weather the ups and downs of a non-profit organization with grace, skill, and dedication, never losing sight of the mission to provide hearing service dogs to the hearing impaired to enhance the recipient's quality of life.
I began my involvement with IHDI as a 'dog person,' wanting to support a group that could save the lives of shelter dogs, and by the way, make a difference in someone's life. As the years have gone on, I truly appreciate what a difference the Hearing Dog makes in so many lives.
As a proud 'Silent Sponsor,' I have sponsored over 15 dogs thus far. The letters I receive from recipients relating how the dogs have changed someone's life from offering companionship, confidence to expand their horizons with additional schooling or progress in the work place, or allowing a mother to feel more comfortable for the safety and care of her children makes every penny contributed seem very well spent indeed. It's a collection of letters and pictures that I treasure with my family albums...
I look forward to continuing my involvement and support of IHDI and would strongly encourage your consideration as well. It's a very good organization with very good people doing a very good and remarkable thing every day."
From Recipient, Walter Schachter of HI
Aloha Friends at International Hearing Dog:
I cannot express how drastically my life has been improved and enriched since I received Domino from IHDI. He is constantly with me, not letting me out of his sight, and tells me everything I need to know. In addition to his superb training, he alerts me to any additional sounds I cannot hear such as approaching vehicles, etc.
Domino, being the only Hearing Dog on the island of Moloka'i and probably the only Hearing Dog in Hawaii, has attracted a lot of attention in his little orange vest. He attends church, goes to restaurants, birthday parties, hotels, on airplanes, to the beach and shopping. He is so well-behaved that people are always amazed. At home he is such a joy as his cheerful, playful personality infects anyone around.
I truly appreciate the wonderful work and training all of your staff does to provide dogs to change and greatly improved the lives of the hearing impaired.
Mahalo nui loa (thank you so very much) for placing Domino with me!
From Retired Vice President of the Johnson Foundation,
Brigit Ann Davis
"I recently retired as Vice President and Program Officer from the Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation, after twenty-three years of working with a wide variety of non-profit organizations, I feel I am qualified to speak on behalf of IHDI, as the Foundation has provided funding each year, for both capital projects and general support, for a great part of that time. I have visited the facility regularly, meeting the dogs and discussing the operation with Martha Foss and Valerie Foss-Brugger.
The Johnson Foundation believes strongly in its role as a partner with each non-profit, helping them to work through any problems and giving them support and encouragement in addition to dollars. IHDI has always been open and cooperative with the Foundation, and I personally have appreciated the manner in which they could come to me to discuss any issue with which they felt I could help, either with advice, referrals or just plain listening. I am, and always have been, deeply concerned about the large number of stray and homeless dogs, and one of the joys for me has been seeing the dogs referred to IHDI become useful, loving and much loved companions.
I have absoluteluy no hesitation in recommending IHDI to you; indeed, I am hopeful that my high opinion of the organization and its dedicated staff will be helpful to you."
From Board Member, Carol Hickman
"I am pleased to be writing in support of IHDI. I joined the Board of Directors three years ago as a way to provide support and participation of a truly unique and highly needed service to our hearing impaired population.
IHDI is run very effectively under the expertise of Valerie Foss-Brugger. She is constantly looking for ways to best manage the organization in the non-profit world of limited resources.
IHDI is not only a unique organization in what they do by providing service dogs to the hearing impaired, but the way they approach it. By accepting dogs through shelters, they are giving both the dog and the recipient a new opportunity in life - the dog, by adding value to someone who is hearing impaired, and by giving the hearing impaired recipient additional tools to manage their life.
I look forward to work with IHDI for years to come, and would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in supporting the organization to do so in any way they can."