AKC Canine Health Foundation President's Award Goes to Roy and JoAnn Kusumoto

Cindy Vogels, chairman of the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) has announced that Roy and JoAnn Kusumoto have received the organization's 2009 President's Award for significant contributions to canine health. This award is presented to individuals, clubs, or organizations who demonstrate excellence in advancing the health of purebred dogs.

 Upon presentation at the Foundation's signature fundraising event, "The Gala by the Bay" in Long Beach, California, Vogels noted, "In their quiet, unassuming way, JoAnn and Roy have made enormous contributions to CHF." She continued, "In addition to extraordinary financial bequests, they also lent their tremendous business expertise to the Foundation."

 Moe Miyagawa has been handling for the Kusumotos for more than 20 years, starting with Chinese Shar-Peis in the 1980's, and including the well-known Ch. Marienburg's Repo Man. "The Kusumotos have dog beds in every room of their house – people don't realize that everything is about the dogs," said Moe. "Roy and JoAnn are not about just spending money to back dogs; they are very generous, but their dogs are their life."

 The permanent award, designed by Cavalier King Charles fancier and sculptress Janet York, is on display in the AKC Canine Health Foundation offices in Raleigh, North Carolina.