Anyone who has ever survived finals week in high school or college likely remembers all too well the anxiety that surrounds all night study sessions, late night cramming, and nights where sleep is replaced with project work and paper-writing. For students at Syracuse University, December mid-terms are filled with such late night workloads. To help students receive some much needed rest, relaxation and wellness, PAWS of CNY once again attended the University’s Pancake Breakfast at the Schine Student Center on December 5 from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am. Armed with a fluffy, tail-wagging team of therapy dogs ready to work, PAWS of CNY volunteers helped Syracuse University students to de-stress just in time for finals. [Read more…]

On November 10 PAWS of CNY celebrated their 15 year Anniversary with a volunteer appreciation event at Greenwood Winery in East Syracuse. Over 70 volunteers attended the event to celebrate the organization’s success with one another.

“Our mission since our founding has not changed,” said Danielle Basciano, president of PAWS of CNY. “Even though we have grown exponentially over the past fifteen years, we are still an organization committed to bringing warmth, friendship and companionship to those in need. The interest that we consistently see from facilities and organizations in our community looking to partner with PAWS of CNY reinforces how important it is for us to continue offering pet assisted wellness services to Central New York.”

Another aspect of the organization that has not changed since its founding is its operating methodology.

“Our organization is still managed today as it was fifteen years ago,” said Basciano. “We are 100 percent operated and managed by volunteers, and financed by donations. We have no paid, or full-time staff members. Everyone who volunteers for our organization does so because they believe in the healing benefits of the human-animal bond, and because they want to bring happiness to the lives of others. It has truly been an honor to be a part of this organization for the past fifteen years.”

During the event, continuous service awards were given to the following volunteers:

Five Years of Continuous Service:

Brenda Alkins
Carol Bertelli
Donna Coe
Debby Emlen
Pamela Getek
Linda & Jim LeMessurier
Jenn MacArthur
Lynne Philley
Ronna Richardson
Dawn & David Rodgers
Yvonne Rugg
Delores Vassallo
Dawn & Colin Wolff
Bill Wright

Ten Years of Service:

Beverly Lauricella

A distinguished service award was also given to Danielle Basciano for dedicating fifteen years of service to PAWS of CNY. In addition to fifteen years of participation in PAWS of CNY, Danielle has served on the Board of Directors for fourteen years, and has been President of the organization for over ten.

The annual Flo Peters Memorial Award for dedicated volunteer service was given this year to Jessica Marabella. The Flo Peters Memorial Award was created in honor of Flo Peters, a passionate, and dedicated PAWS of CNY volunteer who lost her battle to cancer.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for fifteen years of exceptional service and dedication!

PAWS of CNY volunteers touch the lives of hundreds of children and adults every month. We love the work that we do, but are exceptionally grateful when we receive kind thanks from those we meet.
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On October 22, PAWS of CNY volunteer teams attended a student de-stress event at Syracuse University’s Lawrinson Hall. The event aimed to give students an opportunity to take a break from their rigorous schedules and connect with a warm, smiling, friendly, therapy dog.
[Read more…]