BDHPI & TKO

BDHPI is thrilled to announce a new partnership between BDHPI and TKO and hope that many of you will want to get involved as well in our joint efforts and community outreach!

TKO's Mission

Through Tyler’s Kids Outreach (TKO), Tyler and Liz Polumbus strive to enrich the lives of children through family, faith and personal growth. Tyler is a homegrown success story of Denver, so starting his program here is that much more meaningful to him. From their own upbringing, both Liz and Tyler fully appreciate the importance of all three elements – family, faith and personal growth - in the healthy development of children. Moreover, Tyler realizes that through his program the children will enrich their lives as much as they will theirs. He sums it up best when he says, “’Growing Strong Together’ fits our program because this will be a growing process for everyone involved – Liz, the kids and I! We are very excited about TKO!

Entering his third year in the NFL and having a strong foundation of community work from working with the Broncos Community Relations department, Tyler feels ready to take the next step by starting his own program. To do so, he and Liz have created Tyler’s Kids Outreach (TKO, a program under the 501 (c)(3) umbrella of Athletes for Education which is a San Diego-based non-profit foundation. They have big plans for the first year of their program and for years to come. So watch out Denver…here comes TKO! We’re going to Knock you Out in 2011!

You can read more about TKO on their website: www.tylerskidsoutreach.org.

Big Dogs Huge Paws Mission

Big Dogs Huge Paws is a 501c3, non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming giant breed dogs in need. We work primarily with Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Mastiffs (All Types), Irish Wolfhounds, and Scottish Deerhounds and our core philosophy is that “Every BIG dog deserves a chance!”

Community outreach and educating society about the breeds that we work with and the importance of rescue are both top priorities for our organization. One of our long-term goals has always been to start a therapy program to use our gentle giants to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and people with learning difficulties. Many of the giant breeds that we work with tend to be great candidates for therapy work which requires a dog who is friendly, patient, confident, gentle and at ease in all situations.

How Can TKO and BDHPI Work Together?
Children, especially those who are abused or neglected, are able to communicate with animals. A pet offers a safe place for a child with emotional problems. They give unconditional love, providing a security blanket. A dog can be the bond that glues a family together when upheaval, such as moving, death or divorce, or illness occurs. Often, an animal can reach a child beyond an adult's touch.

Mary Kelly, a child-life specialist at Children's Hospital in Oakland, CA (USA), coordinates pet therapy sessions twice a month and is amazed at the incredible connections that occur. "We've had very dramatic visits where a dog brought a child who has not spoken for months out of depression," she states. "Most kids can relate to animals, so seeing and touching the pets brings them a sense of normalcy."

*TKO and BDHPI share a common goal which is to help children grow and we believe that our organizations can make an even greater impact on the lives of children together!

How Can You Get Involved?

Do you live near the Denver, CO and have a Giant Breed dog that is already certified to do Therapy work? If so, please contact Lindsay to find out more about our first event at Children's Hospital which will be held later this month! Lindsay@bigdogshugepaws.com

Are you interested in getting your dog certified to do Therapy work in the future? If so, please contact Lindsay to be a part of our very first Therapy Dog training program. Lindsay@bigdogshugepaws.com

Get involved today and make a difference!