AKC Canine Health Foundation Recognizes 2018 Leaders in Canine Health

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bradford Brady
Director of Development & Communications
AKC Canine Health Foundation
Phone: 919-334-4023
E-mail: bradford.brady@akcchf.org

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

RALEIGH, NC (November 19, 2018) – The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) announces the recipients of their 2018 awards, recognizing leaders in canine health.

• The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) will receive the 2018 AKC Canine Health Foundation President’s Award. This award is given annually to a person or organization that has made an exceptional contribution to advancing canine health.
• The 2018 AKC Canine Health Foundation Distinguished Research Partner Awardees are the American Boxer Charitable Foundation and the Golden Retriever Foundation. Each year these awards are given to clubs or organizations for their ongoing and outstanding commitment to support canine health research.
• Mrs. Katharine (Kate) Simonds receives the inaugural 2018 AKC Canine Health Foundation Legacy Award. The Legacy Award is given in special recognition of a lifelong champion for dogs and supporter of the AKC Canine Health Foundation and its mission. Recipients are honored for their continuous advocacy of the Foundation and lasting support for canine health to benefit current and future generations of dogs.

Recipient of the 2018 President’s Award, the OFA has generously supported and collaborated with CHF for research on numerous canine health issues including musculoskeletal disease, thyroid disease, genetics, oncology, neurology, and the education of clinician-scientists in canine health research. CHF and OFA co-sponsored creation of the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), which includes a database used to research and maintain information on the health issues prevalent in specific breeds and a DNA repository to facilitate research aimed at reducing the incidence of inherited diseases in dogs. Since 2009, OFA has co-sponsored veterinary student scholarships which provide funds for students from US schools of veterinary medicine to attend CHF’s biennial National Parent Club Canine Health Conference. In 2018, they generously supported CHF’s Clinician-Scientist Fellowship Program, surpassing a milestone of cumulative giving of over $500,000.

“AKC Canine Health Foundation is honored to recognize the work of the OFA and appreciates their ongoing and active commitment to current and future canine health research through CHF,” states Dr. Charles Garvin, Chairman of the CHF Board of Directors.

2018 Distinguished Research Partner, the American Boxer Charitable Foundation (ABCF) was created in 1995 to raise funds for research to address health-related concerns in Boxer dogs. Since 1996, their contributions to CHF in support of canine health research across 15 different program areas exceed $1.4 million. In 2018 alone, they donated over $200,000 to research, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to improving the health of all dogs.

2018 Distinguished Research Partner, the Golden Retriever Foundation (GRF) focuses on Golden Retriever health research, promotes knowledge and appreciation of the breed, and rehabilitation and placement of displaced Golden Retrievers. They have donated over $1.4 million to CHF programs, with more than $1 million dedicated to canine cancer research. In 2018, GRF donated over $200,000 to CHF, including a generous match of $50,000 to raise funds for hemangiosarcoma research.

“The American Boxer Charitable Foundation and Golden Retriever Foundation are passionate, trustworthy and longtime advocates for the health of their respective breeds and all dogs,” states Dr. Diane Brown, CHF CEO. “Like CHF, they are committed to supporting canine health research that will prevent, treat and cure canine disease for years to come.”

Legacy Award recipient, Mrs. Katharine (Kate) Simonds, is well-known in the field retriever world and has been a longtime supporter of CHF and canine health research. Kate’s continued dedication to improving the health of dogs is a testament to the love she shares with her Labrador Retrievers, and her commitment to advancing canine health.

Per her longtime friend and fellow retriever enthusiast, John Russell, "Kate Simonds became acutely aware of the AKC Canine Health Foundation when it was in its most embryonic state. The concept and mission of CHF piqued the interest of Kate and her late husband, Pete. Since that time, she has had an unwavering interest in and support for the organization. Kate was instrumental in the establishment of the Retriever Donor Fund at CHF and remained the liaison for that group for many years. At age 86, Kate remains dedicated to the principles and future of the AKC Canine Health Foundation."

“We are proud to honor and thank Mrs. Simonds as a pillar of the retriever community and a dedicated supporter of the AKC Canine Health Foundation since its inception,” says Dr. Diane Brown, CHF CEO. “Our 2018 awardees and the Boards and members of their organizations continue to be an inspiration to me personally, and to all of us with the AKC Canine Health Foundation. True impacts on the health of dogs are being made because of this year’s awardees: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the American Boxer Charitable Foundation, the Golden Retriever Foundation, and Mrs. Kate Simonds.”

The President’s Award and Distinguished Research Partner Awards will be presented at CHF’s annual Canines and Cocktails gala on December 13, 2018. The event is held each year in association with the AKC National Championship in Orlando, FL and brings together people passionate about dogs to celebrate annual achievements in canine health research. Learn more about these and previous award recipients at www.akcchf.org/about-us/awards-and-scholarships/. 

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About CHF
Since 1995, the AKC Canine Health Foundation has leveraged the power of science to address the health needs of all dogs. The Foundation funds the highest quality canine health research and shares information on the funded discoveries that help prevent, treat and cure canine diseases. The Foundation meets and exceeds industry standards for fiscal responsibility, as demonstrated by their four-star Charity Navigator rating and GuideStar Platinum seal. Learn more at www.akcchf.org.