Hamilton Community Foundation funds therapy dogs for every Hamilton City school building

Bob Long, representing the Hamilton Community Foundation, announced that the foundationboard unanimously approved a grant that will pay the three-year funding cycle for six additional certified therapy dogs to expand the districtprogram.

The gift, Long said at the Hamilton City School Board meeting on May 26, will allow the district to move toward a goal of placing a therapy dog in every school building. "This morning, I'm very pleased to tell you the community foundation board of trustees unanimously has agreed to provide a grant that will ensure every Hamilton school building will have its own therapy school therapy dog next school year," Long said.

Board and district speakers described the programArrow and Tango are already active in several buildingsas offering emotional support, reducing anxiety and helping students "feel comfortable and safe," which staff said helps readiness to learn. A district presenter said the foundationgrant will cover the three-year costs needed for the six new dogs, and other speakers emphasized that community donations and partner support have funded the expansion. At least one board speaker stated that no district operating dollars are being used to fund the rollout.

Superintendent Andrea Blevens and board members praised the partnership. The programwhich began with local volunteers and school staffwas framed as a preventative, resilience-building strategy during a period of budget reductions. Foundation leaders said the grant complements other foundation work in the district, including the Many Grants for Teachers program.

The board did not take a separate final vote on this announcement during the meeting; the foundationnot the district operating budgetis the source of the funding described. District officials said additional dogs and handlers will be onboarded this spring and summer and that the foundationper Longcovered the three-year funding cycle for the six dogs mentioned.

What happens next: district staff will coordinate onboarding and training for handlers and dogs; the foundation and school staff said they will continue fundraising and community outreach to sustain and expand the program.

Quote: "This foundation grant will cover the entire three-year funding cycle that's needed for each of those six additional therapy dogs," Bob Long said at the meeting.