August 19, 2007

Class Act

1. One of distinctive and superior quality; 2. Something or someone regarded as outstanding or elegant in quality or performance; 3. Dean and Gerda Koontz.

Camden called from CCI College with the most amazing news!

Yesterday was CCI Graduation. CCI supporters extraordinaire Dean and Gerda Koontz attended, as they sometimes do. Dean spoke about Trixie, Retired CCI Wonder Dog, who passed away in June. Everyone choked up.

Later in the ceremony Linda Valliant, executive director of the Southwest Regional Campus, announced that she had a surprise that not even the other staff members knew about. Are you sitting down? You really should be sitting down for this part.

Linda held up a check from Dean and Gerda for $1,000,000.

That's a lot of zeros.

No fanfare, no lead-in, no giant oversized faux check. Just a regular-sized, anything-but-ordinary, very real check that will facilitate CCI in enhancing the lives of children and adults with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs. A donation from the heart.

That, my friends, is a Class Act.

Chow for now, and Very Humbly Yours,

Parker

Questions or comments for Parker? Send them to call7forhelp@thedenverchannel.com.

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence, or perhaps be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to www.cci.org for details.