April 5, 2004 – Wendy Crann, Ed Crann & Sera Nelson sat around the dining room table at 112 East Center Street in Berea and put pen to paper signing the original articles of incorporation for what would ultimately become Working Animals Giving Service for Kids. Since that day, like most long-term relationships, we have grown, changed, loved and lost over the years. Also like most families we have adopted and adapted.
Starting from one living room, one trainer, one social worker, one dreamer, one dog and one family. Now we serve 35 counties of NE & Central Ohio, have hosted 5 ODRC training programs 3 of which we are presently and concurrently in partnership, and have hosted educational programming in 15 school districts. None of which would have been possible without the support of 11 staff members, 20 board members, hundreds of dogs & families, thousands of volunteer hours.
Each one of us - we each have our own stories (and versions of those stories) to tell.
AJ…Bella…Samson…Buddy….
Howie…Harper…Annie…Hero…
Haywood...Cassie...Gus...Ruby...
Tinner…Ryken…Wilson…Harley…
Noah…Bear…Luna…Zeke…
Each name recalls memories…each name brings miles of smiles. Even 19 years later…
Step by step – one by one – families have entrusted us with the most precious thing in their world – their children. You entrusted us with a piece of their future quality of life, alongside teachers, doctors and therapists, to train what would ultimately serve as a living, breathing adaptive medical device to do for them what they could not otherwise do for themselves. Providing early intervention services and a “leg up” to growing opportunities, one child at a time.
What we did not brace ourselves for were the untrainable moments. The kinetic moments that happen between a service dog and their partner that we can never predict or plan for. The first words spoken, the July 4th parades, the worldwide pandemics, the hairbrush choo choo train with smiles instead of tears, the confidence of walking across the stage at graduation or down the hall at school. Thank you for sharing these moments and milestones with us and allowing us to celebrate them alongside you – for nearly 20 years.
So to you, our family of families, we share and send our love to you in wishing you a Happy Anniversary! You are the very fabric of what makes us who we are as each of you holds a piece of the story of WAGS 4 Kids.
And to the rest of our community - thank you for the memories – every inclusion event, pop-up table, speaking engagement or kids school project. Every cornhole tournament, bachelor raffle, golf outing, food festival, and tailgate party - it is because of you that WAGS 4 Kids has gone from being the best kept secret in Cleveland to the charity that Cleveland grew.
In the next year – it will be our goal to catch up with and share the stories of every one of the families, staff, partners, board members, and volunteers whose passion and participation has made a lasting impact on the endurance of Working Animals Giving Service for Kids.
We hope you will save the date join us for the 20th anniversary party scheduled for next April 2024! (official date to be announced) And if you are at all feeling the puppy love – please click here to flip through the memories and help create an enduring legacy for the next generation of kids