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4 Paws for Ability at UIUC is 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered entirely by student volunteers who dedicate their time to raising and training future service dogs! Our misison is to train confident service dogs who will provide their future handler with independence, safety, and companionship throughout daily life. While a service dog can be life-changing, cost remains a major barrier. Through 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia, Ohio, the total cost is $40,000, with families responsible for raising $20,000 themselves.&nbsp; We are fortunate enough to be able to give back to a family that lives close to the UIUC campus that could use a boost in fundraising for their service dog. We were connected with the Redinger family who has a 10-year-old boy named Koda. He is very incredibly loving boy who enjoys cuddles, kisses, hugs and simply having people around him. He doesn&#39;t need toys or material rewards to make him happy like other kids his age. Love and affection motivates him more than anything. Koda has 1p36 deletion syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), autism, globa development delays, chronic lung disease, and dysphagia. Due to these diagnoses, he functions at approximately the level of a newborn, has no functional form of communication and does not have hand-eye coordination. This requires extensive assistance and supervision with essentially every part of his daily life. One of the biggest challenges for Koda and his family are his seizures that can happen at any time, with no knowledge of when the next will happen and how severe it may be.&nbsp; A service dog would help Koda feel safe and supported during his hardest moments along with a sense of independence. They wouldn&#39;t be just a dog but a partner to stay by his side through every moment, big or small, bad or good, and will give him a voice when he needs it most. Your support, no matter how large or small, can help turn this hope into a life-changing reality for Koda and his family!

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our cause. This donation greatly helps our mission. If you would like to contribute further to our cause, contact us to become a volunteer or spread the word about our mission! Maddie McKinneyuiuc4paws@gmail.com

4 Paws for Ability at UIUC is 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered entirely by student volunteers who dedicate their time to raising and training future service dogs! Our misison is to train confident service dogs who will provide their future handler with independence, safety, and companionship throughout daily life. While a service dog can be life-changing, cost remains a major barrier. Through 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia, Ohio, the total cost is $40,000, with families responsible for raising $20,000 themselves.  We are fortunate enough to be able to give back to a family that lives close to the UIUC campus that could use a boost in fundraising for their service dog. We were connected with the Redinger family who has a 10-year-old boy named Koda. He is very incredibly loving boy who enjoys cuddles, kisses, hugs and simply having people around him. He doesn't need toys or material rewards to make him happy like other kids his age. Love and affection motivates him more than anything. Koda has 1p36 deletion syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), autism, globa development delays, chronic lung disease, and dysphagia. Due to these diagnoses, he functions at approximately the level of a newborn, has no functional form of communication and does not have hand-eye coordination. This requires extensive assistance and supervision with essentially every part of his daily life. One of the biggest challenges for Koda and his family are his seizures that can happen at any time, with no knowledge of when the next will happen and how severe it may be.  A service dog would help Koda feel safe and supported during his hardest moments along with a sense of independence. They wouldn't be just a dog but a partner to stay by his side through every moment, big or small, bad or good, and will give him a voice when he needs it most. Your support, no matter how large or small, can help turn this hope into a life-changing reality for Koda and his family!

4PAWS FOR ABILITY AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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