Smart Pups Assistance DogsSmart Pups Assistance Dogs is a dedicated not-for-profit organisation based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia that focuses on improving the quality of life for young people with Autism and Seizure related syndromes, and their families through training their dogs in ‘task specific’skills. a grant from Newman’s Own Foundation will be used to purchase, raise and train two Medical Alert Assistance Dogs which will be certified for full public access.
Smart Pups Assistance Dogs – Nominated person – Patricia McAlister
Patricia is the Director of Smart Pups Assistance Dogs, which she founded after a friend asked her to train an assistance dog for her mobility-restricted child. Patricia began her Smart Pups journey with an internship at ‘4 Paws for Ability’ in America and on her return established Smart Pups as a not-for-profit venture in dog-assisted early intervention.
She continually empowers those around her through trust and action and her willingness to get her hands dirty alongside them. Patricia also initiated and continues the push for legislative amendments to Queensland’s Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dog Act 2009 to ensure existing barriers around access to public places do not disadvantage special needs children, their Smart Pup or their families.
Newman’s Own Foundation
The foundation, set up by renowned actor Paul Newman, said charities were invited to nominate individuals from within their organisations whose work had empowered others to overcome extraordinarily adverse circumstances, or provided equal access to human rights and contributed to the development of a civil society.
Newman’s Own Foundation turns all net profits and royalties from the sale of Paul Newman’s Own products into charitable donations. To-date, Newman’s Own Foundation have given nearly US$450mil to thousands of charities around the world including US$20mil to Australian charities.
In 2015, 23 Australians charity workers, in fields as diverse as children’s cancer, homelessness, disability and animal welfare, shared in grants worth over A$1mil from Newman’s Own Foundation.