The article below originally appeared in the May/June
2003 GRNews
The National Rescue Committee
wants to recognize the efforts of individuals, groups and
companies that make outstanding efforts in rescue across the
country. The Committee created the "Golden Starfish
Award," based on the "The Starfish Story" (above) and making
a difference. After the award was announced the NRC
received many very worthwhile nominations. Up to two
awards are given each year, one for an individual and one
for a group.
The NRC is very pleased and
honored to recognize the following winners for 2002
Individual Recipient
The winner of the individual award for 2002 is Gail
Lustig. Many Golden Retriever owners across the
country know of Gail's efforts in fundraising for rescue and
in the encouragement she has given to rescues to work
together at her Goldstock get-together every September.
The nomination written by Rick Fish best sums up Gails
efforts.
"The essence of 'The Starfish
Story' is that one person can make a difference. I can
think of no individual who has made a greater difference to
rescue than Gail Lustig of New York City.
"From her vision, compassion and
generosity sprang the annual Goldstock gathering, hosted
over Labor Day for the past five years at her family's
summer camp in Eastern Pennsylvania. It was Gail's
commitment to getting rescues to network and work together
that prompted the rescue retreat, but Goldstock also has
grown into one of rescue's greatest fundraising events.
"More than $150,000 has been
generated by Goldstock events to support rescue - 26 rescues
from across the country participated in the most recent
gathering.
"Since the first Goldstock in
1998, which attracted 60 people and their dogs, the total
attendance now has passed 1,000 people and 1,500 dogs - and
Gail has generously underwritten most of the cost of running
the fun-filled (and sometimes emotional) weekend.
"The Goldstock movement
continues to expand and now includes the charitable
Goldstock Fund, which in the past six months has granted
more than $12,000 to assist rescued dogs who had
extraordinary medical, boarding, evaluation and
transportation needs.
"In the course of it all, Gail
remains active in hands-on rescue, personally pulling dogs
from shelters and getting them safely into rescue.
Though she never asks for recognition for her efforts,
rescuers across the country hold Gail in their hearts as a
model of what one dedicated person can accomplish."
Group Recipient
The winner of the group award is Yankee Golden Retriever
Rescue located in Hudson, Massachusetts.
Since its formation in 1985 by
Joan Puglia and Susan Foster, YGRR has become an example of
the hard work and dedication that can be accomplished by a
group of volunteers. In her nomination Maggie Duncan
wrote:
"From the outset, they (YGRR)
established the policy that age and special needs would
never be a deterrent to the admission of any dog to the
program.
They promoted adoption of
seniors from the very beginning and have loving looked after
the deaf, the three-legged, the epileptic, and those with
severe hip dysplasia and other major medical issues, always
saying if medical care would enable a dog to have a good
life then YGRR would find a way to provide it.
"Joan and Susan's dedication and commitment, often at the
expense of their personal lives, was exemplary. In
addition to providing homes for about 3,500 Goldens, YGRR
has also volunteered to help other rescue groups just
getting started - willingly sharing their forms and policy
materials. Many groups have received TGRR's "How to
Get STarted" information packet, and many individuals have
had long telephone consultations with Joan, Susan and YGRR
members willing to share their expertise.
"YGRR has been an ongoing help
and assistance to groups in their fundraising efforts.
YGRR has had remarkable success with their auction,
catalogs, capital campaigns and other fundraising avenues
and readily share their advice and expertise to help other
rescue groups across the country. YGRR has been a
wonderful example and mentor to other rescue groups in their
untiring efforts to 'make a difference'."
Congratulations and sincere thanks from the rescue
committee to the 2002 Starfish Award winners. |
