Bulldogs Helping Children

Baby and George have become involved with helping children who need help. This gratifying journey began on March 23, 2006, when Baby was asked to pose with a Special Needs child named Aaliyah who was diagnosed with the worst form of rheumatoid arthritis when she was 20 months old. The image was taken to raise awareness of the Early Steps Program. You can find out more about this program by visiting Early Steps Florida. 

My guess is that the good Lord knew that Baby (like almost all bulldogs) loves kids, so He chose Baby to be one to help special children. Here's another image of him interacting  with a child.

Our next opportunity to help a youngster came on May 26, 2006, when Baby and George attended a fundraiser for a 16-year-old Venice High School sophomore named Katie Mathews who was critically injured in a horrific automobile accident on May 6, 2006. She suffered a broken neck, collapsed lung and other serious injuries. The family needs help with medical and rehabilitation expenses. If you can help, send a check payable to Katie Mathews, P.O. Box 1445, Venice, FL 34284.

Baby's next opportunity for Baby to help kids will come on October 21, 2006. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Sarasota/Tampa Bay, Inc. has asked Baby to be the Guest of Honor at their annual "Wags for Wishes" fundraiser to be held at Weeki Wachee Springs, FL. The organization will be selling Baby the Bulldog lapel pins at the event with 100% of the proceeds going to Make-A-Wish. 

Here are two Make A Wish Links: Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America and Sun coast Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Sarasota/Tampa Bay, Inc.

Here's what the flyer looks like, advertising the event:

On October 16, we went to St. Petersburg for a TV interview with Bay News 9 to help advertise for the Wags for Wishes event. Eddie Jackson is the cameraman. Joanne Schoch is holding Baby and Bev Zaldivar is holding George. Bev is a volunteer  with the Make-A-Wish Foundation ®, and Joanne is the Executive Director of the Humane Society of the Nature Coast. We all had a ball.

Linda Flax is wearing the black suit. She's the Regional Director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central and Northern Florida Suncoast Region, and Jen Holloway (holding the boys) is an anchor for Bay News Channel 9.

Click on the TV set to see a montage of the interview in St. Petersburg.

Here we are at the Wags for Wishes show, and we wouldn't have missed it for the world. Here's a montage of images taken during our adventure:
Wags For Wishes Slide Show

Here's the award that Baby was given:

Both of the boys were also given Make-A-Wish® pins.

To all hurting kids, Baby has a special message for you.

Kids, we know that all of you love Disneyland and Disneyworld. Here's a nice surprise for you. Baby has a very famous fan named Sherry Alberoni. Sherry is one of the original Mouseketeers!